Agenda item

The report sets out the response from Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) in respect of the request for regular updates on the position with the acute mental health inpatient beds review and updates on the latest Care Quality Commission inspection.

Discussion:

The Executive Director of Operations, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) started his introduction to the report by extending an invitation to Members of the Committee to a visit to any of the KMPT establishments. 

He set out the key findings in the CQC report on the Trust which received an overall rating as ‘requires improvement’ with the element of caring rated as ‘good’.  He emphasised the fact that the CQC noted that across the Trust there were kind, caring, compassionate and passionate staff who treated people with dignity and respect, wanted to deliver good quality care and wanted to improve.  Members of the Committee commended the Trust on this.

The Executive Director of Operations, KMPT advised the Committee of the Trust’s plans for a single point of access and the open dialogue scheme, which enabled an immediate response at the point of crisis, as these had shown promising outcomes.  Members commended both schemes and requested that, in the case of the open dialogue scheme, KMPT should be vigilant to ensure that the needs of people who do not have family support are adequately met.  It was stated that, with regards to the single point of access work was ongoing to ensure that a directory was available to staff at the single point of access to signpost clients to assistance with housing, debt and other types of advice.

Members put forward the following comments and questions:

·           in response to a concern being expressed about the lack of acute beds in the area, the Executive Director of Operations, KMPT explained that the trust would provide the number of beds which were commissioned from them;

·           a request was made to NHS Medway CCG to increase funding on mental health as the point was made that the CCG spend 10% of its budget on mental health compared to the regional average of 12% so, in the view of Members, this was an area where further investment was needed, particularly in an attempt to reduce the number of people being admitted to hospital;

·           discussion took place about the closure of the Personality Disorder Unit at Park Avenue in Gillingham and Members expressed their disappointment at this decision.  The Chief Clinical Officer emphasised that the unit had been a pilot for which one off funding had been agreed by the CCG.  Following requests for key performance data from KMPT it did not appear that the unit had been successful so further funding could not be provided.  This was on the basis that it did not represent good value for money or improved patient outcomes. He stated that a mental health needs analysis and gap analysis would take place in order to assess the best way forward for the service.  As part of this discussion he explained that there were some patients identified by KMPT as having tier 4 Personality Disorder needs who had long stays in hospital.  The CCG would be discussing the matter with KMPT and NHS England.  He undertook to provide further details of CCG spend on mental health to the Committee.  The Chairman reminded Members that the topic of the personality disorder service would be the subject of a further report to the Committee.  In the meantime, the Chief Clinical Officer stated that further information was available on the CCG website;

·           questions were asked about the issues of concern highlighted by the CQC in relation to Littlestone Lodge and the point was made by Members that these were vulnerable elderly people who deserved better care.  The Executive Director of Operations, KMPT explained some of the measures put in place by the Trust to mitigate the problems and stated that the CQC had lifted the initial warning notices.  He provided a reassurance to Members that robust performance management was in place.  He also confirmed that, as far as he was aware, as part of its duty of candour, the Trust had apologised to service users and carers at Littlestone Lodge about the identified shortcomings;

·           further to a query about the level of external bed days, the Executive Director of Operations, KMPT explained that there was often a peak during the summer months but the Trust were trying to mitigate this as best they could.

Decision:

The Committee noted the report.