Minutes of VSN meeting
2nd April 2025 at Cambourne Church
Chair: Sandie Smith
1. High Impact User Programme- Mary Barnes, Cambridgeshire County Council
This work has been commissioned by the ICB and covers the 3 hospitals in the area- Peterborough, Hinchingbrooke and Addenbrookes and is being delivered by the council.
• Purpose: The Tier 1 HIU Service supports individuals who frequently attend A&E (10+ times in 12 months) due to unmet social, emotional, or environmental needs. There are over 400 people in the area who fit into this category.
• Focus: Reducing unnecessary A&E attendances by addressing root causes such as loneliness, mental health issues, and social deprivation.
• Approach: -Personalised Support: -Low Eligibility Criteria: Open to individuals aged 18+ with 10+ A&E attendances in the past year. -Collaboration: Acts as a bridge between services (health, social care, voluntary sector) to prevent individuals from falling through gaps. -Referrals: Currently from Hospital Trusts only and the teams working around the hospital.
There is no limit/ timescales on the visits someone can have. The support is often a very practical need- food, clothes, advocacy, helping attend appointments, liaising with other agencies such as CGL navigating the system etc . People’s histories show that they have often had multiple inputs from agencies for periods of time .
In future the scope may be widened to ambulance service and first responders.
Q: When do you think you will have some idea of success? MB by the end of the year we will have some data and we are already seeing what can be achieved.
Q: Are you seeing any gaps? MB we are collating a list of services but the gap we are seeing is thresholds-people are often not unwell enough or disabled enough to meet referral criteria. We have also found that early trauma is a common denominator for those coming through to us.
Q: Does this work also cover frequent users of GPs? MB no this is being picked up under Tier 2 work (see details below).
The group highlighted the potential benefits of threading stories through the data that is being gathered.
ACTION Sandie to schedule VSN meeting item on Population Health Management and explore linking this to the strategic outcomes framework.
2. Data Catalogue – Michael Mitchell
For those who had not heard about the data project Micheal gave an overview
The Data Catalogue is an Excel spreadsheet on NHS futures platform with a tab for each organisation to enter the headings of the data they collect. NHS Futures is a free, secure, private and controlled by the VSN.
Each organisation should nominate a Data Contact to be added to NHS Futures and complete their organisation’s tab. Data Contacts need to request to be added to NHS Futures. (if this has not been done yet please contact Michael) MichaelM@cambridgecab.org.uk
The Data Catalogue is a living document on NHS Futures which allows live updates for anyone with access to the platform.
Why Is This Important?
Each organisation collects valuable data from its activities. By better understanding who is collecting what, we can better influence stakeholders, enhance decision-making, and strengthen funding bids. No existing tool in the VSN helps to understand data collection or identify opportunities for data collaboration. We can learn from other organisations’ data collection practices and analysis tools. And you could participate in specific data projects in the VSN as well as collaborating with peers for data sharing opportunities.
VSN it was suggested that a demo of how easy it is to add data in case people thought that the task was complicated.
ACTION Sandie and Michael to compile further information to encourage more organisations to sign up.
3. Reps Update
People Board: Sharon and Fiona
– The Leading Beyond Boundaries training is to be paused as it is becoming more difficult to release staff form their service to attend.
– The People Strategy – this was reported on before and looked at several things including parity of terms and conditions etc. Due to the cuts the Trusts need to implement it was felt that this needs to be relooked at as “now is not the right time”. Sharon will keep on board with this.
Sharon mentioned that even though there is work being done around anti racism there is still a lot of disparity in organisations. Sharon wondered what we knew within the VSN? Have we ever collected data on this? Much discussion took place and it was wondered if there was something the VSN could look at. Maybe add questions to future surveys.
Sandie confirmed that Claudia Iton, ICB Chief People Officer, is confirmed to present to the next VSN meeting so that further discussions and actions can be agreed then.
North Partnership: Keith
Keith said the meeting discussed reorganisation of local authority and changes within the NHS and talked about plans for the future, although on an uncertain basis.
Ann Hunt talked about LD and Health Inequalities, link to LeDer report: https://www.cpics.org.uk/download/leder-2024-annual-report-easy-read.pdf?ver=11649
4. NHS updates- Andrea Grobois
As most are aware the government has announced the abolishment of NHSE, with some functions merging with the Department of Health and Social Care. This process will take about two years to complete.
ICBs have been asked to reduce running costs by 50% in Q3 2025/26. They are currently awaiting further details around the future function of ICBs and how the savings are to be realised. Additional cuts to corporate costs have also been announced for NHS provider organisations. We expect further information in the coming weeks. This will understandably be a challenging time for NHS/ICB colleagues and particularly those with non front line facing roles.
Jim Mackey, CEO of NHS England wrote to all Trusts and ICBs this week.
ACTION Sandie to share the letter. NHS England » Working together in 2025/26 to lay the foundations for reform
Good News- Continuation of funding for the VSN for the next 12 months has been agreed. It was appreciated that in these difficult times receiving the funding guarantee was a bonus.
5. ToR VSN- Sandie
These have been updated and were sent out with this agenda.
ACTION All to send comments to Sandie before the May VSN meeting.
6. Director Update- Sandie
ASSURA round 2- the project proposals that were submitted were amazing and all successful organisations will receive notification shortly. At the end of this round we are left with just 2 Integrated Neighbourhoods who have not received any funding. There will be scope for a smaller round 3 and this will be targeted- Sandie will be working on this
JOY- Sandie and Care Network will be attending the JOY meetings. Sandie would like to know of any organisations experience / feedback of using JOY or getting referrals etc.
ACTION – All of VSN to feedback where appropriate on JOY – an email will be sent.
Integrated Care Partnership- Julie Farrow from Hunts Forum used to attend these meetings however as Julie is retiring there will be a representative vacancy. Now we have next years funding confirmed, Sandie is working on a role description and an EOI form will be circulated once this is completed.
7. AOB
Sandie and the VSN members thanked Debbie for her work with the VSN form the beginning as she is retiring next week.
Postscript from Debbie
A big thank you to all of you for your support over the last few years and putting up with my Monday Morning emails!! Thank you too for the lovely gifts and card. I cant wait to use my exclusive VSN mug!!!!
Tier 2
Funding was made available across the North Care to support a High Intensity User Tier 2 Scheme commencing in November 2023 until March 2025. This scheme could be delivered at general practice or Primary Care Network (PCN) level.
This project aims to promote a proactive approach to patient care. This in turn should reduce patients’ need to access care frequently from the practice and wider system partners, including ED, acute beds, GP practices, and NHS111.
Each participating practice/PCN will be required to:
• Identify a patient cohort
• Offer a proactive personalised care plan to the identified patient cohort
Include this cohort of patients in the regular practice MDT and discussions
In December 2024, an interim evaluation was sent out to all participating practices/PCNs to gather insight and feedback into the scheme.
Each PCN will take a different approach here is how most the Hunts teams are doing this
· Cohort identified
· Patients contacted – could be text or phone
· Offer made re personalised care plan
· If accepted – personalised care plan conversation held and a ‘what matters to me’ conversation had – all this information will be recorded and noted on patient records.
· From this SP/dedicated resource allocated to the project – will make appropriate referrals to support patient in Health and wellbeing