South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board (IJB) recently released its Annual Performance Report (APR) for 2023/24
The report, which covers the 2023/24 financial year, highlight the approach of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership (SLHSCP) and documents its achievements in response to continuing challenges within health and social care.
A total of £734million of funding was available to the IJB from NHS Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire Council. Overspends totalled £7.6million the vast majority of that in prescribing costs – which were down on the previous year, but overall there was a total funding underspend of £6.7million.
The APR comes at a time when health and social care systems across Scotland face workforce challenges, financial pressures and increasing demand for services.
The purpose of the APR is to ensure that performance is open and accountable, whilst at the same time providing an overall assessment of performance in relation to planning and carrying out integration functions.
The APR is also of interest to the NHS Lanarkshire health board and to South Lanarkshire Council in monitoring the success of the integration arrangements they have put in place.
Among the main achievements noted in the report were:
- The Blantyre Life Care Campus which provides reablement/rehabilitation support to people aged 50 and over for up to 42 days who are clinically fit for discharge is operating at an average of 27 days to return people home safely. Nine out of 10 of those re supported by the service rated it as very good or excellent.
- The success of the Home First Care at Home Service which is also part of the intermediate care strategy, work to date shows that when a person successfully completes a reablement intervention they require 35 per cent less care at home hours for their ongoing care requirements. This exceeds the 25 per cent target for the service.
- The Primary Care Out of Hours Services – Over an average week, the service provides 118 hours of support and responds to approximately 80,000 contacts per annum.
- A total of 24 per cent of all discharges were supported with an assistive technology solution as part of the care package.
- The contribution of the HSCP to Operation Flow as part of stabilising pressures across the health and social care system.
- The successful implementation of the Home First approach in supporting the Discharge without Delay programme.
- The expansion of assisted technology in supporting people to remain independent. For example, 4,151 telecare items were installed the previous year.
- Commissioned arrangements with Lanarkshire Carers continued to grow with 1,398 new carers identified in 2023/2024, an increase of 26 per cent on the previous year. Overall, Lanarkshire Carers are in touch with 6,825 carers.
- Action for Children worked with 202 young carers during the year, and increase of 11 per cent.
Lesley McDonald, Chair of the South Lanarkshire IJB, said: “This report demonstrates that even in the face of complex challenges, we remain committed to the health and wellbeing of our community. We are deeply grateful to our staff and partners for their incredible work throughout the year, and to our communities for their ongoing support.”
She emphasised the report reflects not just the hurdles faced, but the strides made towards creating a more sustainable and efficient health and social care system.
Ambitious goals for the future are also outlined, including efforts such as streamlining discharge processes through the new Optimal Discharge Planning Target Operating Model and expanding virtual capacity to reduce hospital bed occupancy, improving patient flow across the system.
Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of the South Lanarkshire IJB, said: “This year’s Annual Performance Report is both a reflection of what has been achieved under difficult circumstances and also provides a blueprint for where we are heading. We are actively redesigning services to ensure they remain responsive and sustainable, while continuing to place patient safety and staff wellbeing at the forefront.”
In addition to addressing immediate challenges, the report highlights ongoing investments in digital transformation and workforce support, recognising that sustainable solutions will require a combination of compassionate care, operational efficiency and technological advancements.
Professor Sengupta added: “The efforts we are making now will help ensure that the health and social care system in South Lanarkshire remains resilient and continues to deliver high-quality care in the years to come. This includes innovative practices such as the use of virtual capacity and our comprehensive approach to prescribing efficiencies.”
The 2023/24 Annual Performance Report is available for public viewing under agenda item 13 in the IJB meeting papers at: https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/slhscp/downloads/file/494/sl_ijb_meeting_papers_24_september_2024
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