Question to NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board meeting and their answer

Question we posed to Mid & South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) meeting held in public on 16 March 2023:

“ As hopefully we approach the end of the worst of this time’s winter pressures, what has the ICB learnt from this experience, what would it have done differently, what lessons has it learnt and will put into action for the 2023-24 winter and what actions does it want the rest of the national and local integrated system to do over the summer to prepare for the 2023-24 winter? All in the context of providing a safe, quality, integrated service to the patients and people of South Woodham Ferrers and all the local communities for whom you have responsibility.”

Due to the volume of questions submitted the ICB was unable to address them at the meeting and written responses were promised. The following answer was received on 6 April 2023:

“The ICB Interim Executive Director of Oversight, Assurance and Delivery has provided the following response:

Winter planning for 22/23 began in late spring of 2022, identifying where we anticipated a capacity/demand mismatch and how we could mitigate it. We were advised of funding for winter support in autumn 2022, with all our schemes coming on-line over late autumn and into the winter. The selected schemes were largely successful at reducing the capacity/demand mismatch and played an important role in maintaining patient/resident flow around the MSE footprint. Planning for winter 23/24 commenced in January of 2023, to better fit with recruitment lead times. We plan to continue some of our winter 22/23 schemes throughout the year, with other schemes going live again nearer the winter. Whilst we did achieve our intent with our winter funded schemes, earlier recruitment into substantive roles will help us to deliver even bigger volumes of support next time around.”