To note the attached update on the progress of the merger of the Clinical Commissioning Groups, that was originally intended to be made to the Committee at its meeting on 17 March 2020.

Mid and South Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) has recently advised that NHS England has paused all work on the merger of CCGs, following guidance issued on 28 March 2020 aimed at reducing burdens and releasing NHS capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further work on the merger within the CCGs is therefore currently in abeyance. The Merger Project Board (CCG Chairs, Accountable Officer and CCG Lay Members) has not met since March and all CCG staff working on the merger have been re-deployed to other tasks.

The engagement survey with member of the public closed just after lockdown and a number of scheduled public meetings were cancelled as a result of the social distancing guidelines. Mid and South Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups have not yet been able to analyse the results of the survey as priorities for the Communications and Engagement Teams shifted to help with incident management. Depending on NHS England guidance regarding the re-starting of merger work, it is hoped to be able to provide an analysis and use the results as soon as possible.

The update intended to be made to the Committee in March 2020 advised on the position of the Joint Accountable Officer. Mid and South Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups has confirmed that the recruitment process to appoint a substantive Joint Accountable Officer across all five mid and south Essex CCGs and the executive lead of the Integrated Care System has re-started and that an update on progress in will be provided due course. 

A briefing for the relevant Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Southend Borough Council, Thurrock Borough Council and Essex County Council was held with Clare Panniker (Joint Chief Executive of Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust and Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) and Anthony McKeever (Interim Joint Accountable Officer for Mid and South Essex CCGs) in early July 2020.

The Committee received an update on the progress of the merger of the Clinical Commissioning Groups and was advised that NHS England had paused all work on the merger of CCGs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to questions raised by councillors that couldn’t be answered at the meeting, the Chair requested that details be provided to the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, in order that written responses to all such matters could be sought from Mid and South Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

To receive an update on the progress of the merger of the Clinical Commissioning Groups.