Agenda item

This paper provides an update on KMPT services based in Medway and/or support the Medway population and an overview of the main care pathways for adults and older adults into KMPT mental health services.

Discussion:

Members considered a paper which provided an update on KMPT services based in Medway and/or support the Medway population; an overview of the main care pathways for adults and older adults into KMPT mental health services and an update on the Medway and Kent eating disorder service.

The following issues were discussed:

·     Pathways – in response to a comment about the complexity of the clinical pathways diagrams in the report, Members were advised that these were very high level and not used to communicate with the public. The Trust was redesigning its literature to make it clearer to patients what therapies they were likely to receive and what the possible outcomes could be.

·     Britton House – following a recent Member site visit to Britton House, there were a number of questions about working conditions and the general environment at Britton House. KMPT advised that there had been the normal teething problems when staff had moved into the building which had been addressed. However, a balance had to be struck between infection control and the rooms being inviting to service users and staff.  There had been some initial complaints from staff but none since and there was a staff consultation group in place to discuss issues. There was now a blended model of working with around 50% of clinical appointments moving to  a digital platform. This model had generally been viewed positively but KMPT recognised that a one size fits all model was not appropriate and through the review of the agile working programme take into consideration ongoing views of staff and patients to ensure improvements are sustained, safe and of a high quality.

·     Voluntary Sector - to what extent KMPT supported the voluntary sector, given its reliance on it to provide mental health services was queried. Members were advised that KMPT were rolling out a programme, starting in Medway and Swale, to redesign the community mental health offer for people with serious mental illness. This would involve the voluntary sector. NHS England understood the importance of a sustainable voluntary sector and the programme was an opportunity to think differently about how MCH used its resources.

·     Waiting times standards - a comment was made that the target of 18 weeks from referral to commencement of treatment with the Community Mental Health Teams was not very challenging. Members were assured that urgent care responses were either the same day or within 72 hours and anyone waiting for 18 weeks would have been already contacted and assessed. KMPT commented this standard is the same standard most mental health trusts are measured against however continually review to try to reduce wait times where possible.

·     Dementia diagnoses – Members were advised this rate had improved in recent months, but more progress was needed. A paper on this issue would be submitted to the Committee.

·     Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services – in response to a question about how fathers were supported currently, KMPT advised that Covid had meant fathers could not be invited into the unit. Covid had prompted a national discussion on the role of fathers and partners when the mother was experiencing mental illness and in a ward away from the baby and mother. KMPT wanted to make sure the whole family was engaged when the mother was mentally unwell. In terms of what service was available for fathers who suffered mental illness following the birth of a child, this would be clarified.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to:

a)      note the report.

b)      agree for themed integrated reports about mental health to be brought for information and discussion to this Committee over the next 12 months along with visits to local services outside of the Committee.

c)      agree that eating disorders for adults, children and young people mental health and transition will be the next themed scrutiny report brought to this committee via the Mental Health Learning Disability and Autism Improvement Board.