Issue - meetings

Report, presentation and engagement document attached.

It was noted that the effect of the recently announced General Election and associated restrictions on publicity on the consultation was currently being considered by officers.

It was accepted by officers that local health services faced a financial challenge with £55 million in savings having to be found across the Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge CCGs. Essential services such as cancer, emergency services and mental health services would be protected. Some savings had already been made by, for example, keeping to the CCGs’ policy on funding of Procedures of Limited Clinical Effectiveness.

The current consultation, which was due to run until 18 May 2017, sought the views of stakeholders and the public on reducing or stopping funding of services such as IVF, cosmetic procedures, over the counter medicines, bariatric weight loss surgery and sterilisation. The proposals suggested options for decreasing the number of IVF cycles that were funded. Over the counter services that it was proposed would no longer be funded included the prescribing of gluten free food and vitamins. It was also proposed that travel vaccinations would no longer be funded. It was clarified that the ceasing of cosmetic procedures would not apply to cases of post-cancer reconstruction, trauma or severe burns. For services such as mole or cyst removal, exceptions could still be made if for example a clinician felt these had a significant impact on an individual and/or there was a clinical need for removal.

It was emphasised that no decisions had been made as yet. The consultation document had been widely distributed to GPs, Councils, community groups etc. Drop-in sessions had also taken place in each borough.

A Member raised the issue of the impact of the proposals on financially disadvantaged groups and officers agreed that this would be fed back as a response to the consultation. The proposed service changes had not been set by NHS England and similar reductions in other geographic areas had been looked at by the project team. It was possible, given the financial context, that other savings areas may be proposed but only these areas had been identified at present.

For services such as mole and cyst removal, exceptions could still be made if for example a clinician felt these were unsightly. Some bariatric surgery would also still be available if agreed clinical criteria were met.

Final decisions on the proposals would be taken by the CCG governing bodies towards the end of June and Equality Impact Assessments would be completed for all changes proposed. Members felt that more explicit guarantees were needed and that each of the proposed changes needed a thorough Equalities Impact Assessment in order to assure that there was no disproportionate effect on those least able to cope with the changes. It was AGREED that these comments, together with the need for clinically approved procedures to still be available as required, should form the Committee’s response to the consultation.