The ONE Stockport Health & Care Locality Board met on Wednesday 17 June 2025 to discuss a range of health and care initiatives for the borough. Key decisions included the approval of the refreshed Terms of Reference for the Board and the approval of the approach and schemes proposed to be funded from the 2025/26 capacity and discharge funding. The Board also approved the Section 75 (s75) Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Better Care Fund. The Board noted significant financial pressures, particularly concerning the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit and a reduction in capacity funding.

NHS Reform and System Updates

Philippa Johnson, Deputy Place Based Lead for NHS Greater Manchester (Stockport), provided an update on NHS reforms, noting that NHS Greater Manchester (GM) Integrated Care Board (ICB) would not merge with another ICB. However, there remains a requirement to model a revised ICB with a significant reduction in resources, focusing on strategic commissioning. Design workshops were underway to develop a new operating model and deliver savings. The Board noted the challenging time for staff due to this uncertainty.

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust – Quality Update

Tim McDougall, Executive Director of Quality, Nursing and Healthcare Professionals at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (PCFT), reported on recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) visits in November 2024 and February 2025. For Stockport, the review included Norbury Ward and the Older Adults service, both receiving a requires improvement notification. Work had commenced to address these issues, with improvements expected following self-assessments and concerns previously reported to the CQC.

Finance Report

David Dolman, Associate Director of Finance for NHS Greater Manchester (Stockport), presented the finance report as at 31 May 2025. Stockport was reporting a year-to-date overspend of £0.803m and a forecast outturn overspend of £3.753m. These overspends were attributed to neurodiversity assessments, ADHD treatment costs under the Right to Choose initiative, and additional mental health Section 117 (s117) placements. An investment of £600k had been made in the Living Well mental health programme. Year-to-date savings of £1.845m were in line with the Cost Improvement Plan (CIP), with the full-year savings target of £4.490m on track, though £0.400m was rated as high risk.

Capacity and Discharge Funding 2025/26

David Dolman also outlined proposed schemes to be funded from the capacity and discharge allocations for 2025/26. These included a reduction in discharge-to-assess commissioned beds, continued focus on managing frailty in the community, investment in the Community Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), and allocations for mental health schemes and care home market sustainability. The Board approved this approach.

Better Care Fund: Section 75 Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding

David Dolman briefed the Board on the Section 75 (s75) Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Better Care Fund. The s75 agreement, covering April 2024 to March 2027, involves pooling resources for health and care. The MoU covers April 2024 to March 2026. The Board approved both the s75 agreement and the MoU.

Stockport Quality Group Report – Paediatric Audiology Services

Jemma Billing provided an update on challenges within Paediatric Audiology Services, both nationally and locally. Concerns raised in October 2023 had led to quality visits and mitigations. However, a further visit resulted in a decision to pause new referrals, impacting 680 new referrals and creating a backlog of 1201 review appointments. A Greater Manchester (GM) Task & Finish Group was established to monitor the action plan and discuss future commissioning arrangements. Discussions were ongoing with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) and NHS GM to develop a new commissioning model, with plans to commission an independent provider for 12 months. The Board noted the update and identified risks.

ONE Stockport Health & Care Board Terms of Reference

Philippa Johnson briefed the Board on the refreshed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the ONE Stockport Health & Care Board. Proposed changes included meeting every other month, alternating with the Executive Live Well Programme Board, and explicitly referencing the Place Based Lead/Chief Executive of Stockport Council as Deputy Chair. The Board approved the refreshed ToR with the addition of co-production and residents' voice.

Strategic Risk Register

Philippa Johnson presented the strategic risk register, a working document outlining system risks. It was noted that additional risks, including NHS Reforms and resource availability, and Paediatric Audiology service risks, would be added. The Board noted the current risk position and the addition of these two risks.

Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy Update 2025

Jilla Burgess-Allen provided an update on the Stockport Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, highlighting the involvement of the Stockport Mental Health Carers Group in co-production, funding for a Whole School Approach to wellbeing, and the role of the new VCFSE Alliance. The Board noted the progress made.

State of the Borough Report

Holly Rae and Philip Taylor presented the State of the Borough Report, which provides a snapshot of life in Stockport and progress against the One Stockport: One Future ambitions. Trends highlighted included an ageing and more diverse population, improving health outcomes for children but persistent childhood obesity, and an increase in adult anxiety and diabetes. The report also included data on mortality, healthy life expectancy, burden of disease, and neighbourhood-level data. The Board noted the report, with suggestions for future iterations including cost of living updates and a deeper dive into childhood obesity.

Flash Reports

Flash reports were noted from the Stockport Primary Care Commissioning Committee, highlighting good performance in general practice, and the Stockport Place Based Provider Partnership Update, emphasizing the need to continue work under the Live Well umbrella.

Any Other Business

The Chair highlighted a circulated document regarding the NHS GM IVF consultation. The meeting concluded with thanks to the members for their attendance.

The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 30 July 2025.