Healthcare priorities set as after Ribble Valley performance revealed

An older population and limited public transport could be factors. However, in other health considerations, the Ribble Valley performs well, it is said.

Health priorities are being identified at Ribble Valley Council as part of wider NHS and social care changes across Lancashire and south Cumbria.

Separately, activity is under way in nearby Pendle regarding current and future NHS facilities and concerns.

At Ribble Valley Council, a new report says its priorities include helping to make people’s lives healthier and a new regional Integrated Care Board has been launched by the government to look at different ways of providing NHS health and council care services.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) were launched across the country last year. The previous system of local clinical commissioning groups has ended. 

In Lancashire and South Cumbria, new Integrated Care Board arrangements will include a local Health and Well-being Partnership. The partnership will include the NHS, primary care providers,  community and voluntary groups, mental health bodies and district councils.

In the Ribble Valley, a smaller working group of councillors has been formed with a health and well-being remit. They are Conservative Cllr Stuart Hirst, recently-elected Labour Cllr Rachael Ray and Independent Cllr Ian Brown. Their group will report to the borough’s more-senior Health and Housing Committee.

Cllr Stuart Hirst (Picture: Ribble Valley Council)

Cllr Rachael Ray (Picture: Ribble Valley Council)

Cllr Ian Brown. (Picture: Ribble Valley Council)

The working group met recently and has suggested focusing on the barriers that Ribble Valley people may face in getting health services or advice.

A report for the latest Health and Housing Committee states information provided to the working group shows that Ribble Valley scores positively against other Lancashire authorities on almost all health indicators.

Ribble Valley Borough Council offices, Clitheroe

However, areas where Ribble Valley performs poorly are:

• Access to services. This covers access to GP services and pharmacies.

• Cardiovascular disease. The Ribble Valley scores lower than the Lancashire average on cardiovascular disease which could be due to an older population and people living longer, thus developing this condition.

• High blood pressure is more prevalent than the national average.

• Preventative work in the community can help reduce these illnesses, as well as making the general population healthier, the report says..

However, it adds:  “The key concern of the working group is that the health landscape is vast and complicated… Identifying where the group can have most impact is crucial.

“Access to services is a key issue for the Ribble Valley, to both GPs and pharmacies.

"Limited public transport exacerbates this problem. Effective signposting, mobile services and outreach services are all areas the working group would wish to look at.”

The working group could also "map" all the different council and community health and well-being activities, so better links and promotion can take place.

Regarding the new Integrated Care Board system, the report adds: “The Health and Well-being Partnership is in its infancy and will need careful monitoring by the working group to ensure it serves the people of Ribble Valley effectively.”

Ribble Valley Council chamber

Borough councillors on the Health and Housing Committee are being asked to formally approve the working group priorities as:

Examining access to health and well-being services and considering how access could be improved.

Any suggestions will be agreed firstly by the borough’s Health and Housing Committee and then fed to the new partnership.

Mapping Ribble Valley Council and other organisations’ community health and well-being activities, for better links and promotion to the public.

Separately in Pendle, councillors there are lasing with the new Integrated Care Board about access to GPs, midwives, health clinics, pharmacy and ambulance services, especially around Barnoldswick.

Some of these services, such as midwives. cater for patients from surrounding areas too including the Ribble Valley and Craven, it has been said.

Some Pendle councillors claim current facilities are inadequate including a new Barnoldswick clinic in a former bank. Pendle Council was told by the Integrated Care Board it would need to provide a "compelling case" to justify future NHS funding bids, councillors said recently.

The Integrated Care Board is reviewing NHS land and property in Pendle. It is also looking at digital technology for health services and other short-term and longer-term options.