Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator advised that the Committee had been requested to consider an additional item titled ‘White Paper Consultation – Services Fit For Future – Quality and Governance in Health and Care in Wales.  The Committee agreed to consider the additional item.

(a)  That the report be noted; and

(b)  That the response to Welsh Government be strengthened to reflect the concerns raised by the Committee.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) introduced the initial feedback to the Welsh Paper consultation from internal staff and officers.  The White Paper sought views on proposals covering a number of health and social care issues which may require future legislation. 

            Proposals included the strengthening of local health boards so that they functioned as integrated, accountable; population-based organisations; new duties of candour and quality; areas where health and social care could act more collaboratively; and more effective inspection, regulation and capture of citizens’ voices.  The consultation was split into four chapters, each of which was summarised within the report.

            Councillor Dave Mackie, commenting as a County appointee to the Community Health Council (CHC), reported that concern had been raised by the Community Health Council around the proposals which were modelled on the Scottish system and questioned why this was the case given that the Scottish model was already being reviewed.  He also said that members of the CHC had an understanding of what was involved with inspections as many members had retired from the health care system and provided expertise when carrying out inspections.  He was concerned if the proposals were for the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) to undertake inspections as they only carry out a small number in comparison to the CHC.  He said that all members of the CHC were volunteers and that the continuation of volunteers should be encouraged and that there was an advantage to being on the ground visiting hospitals where staff felt they had the opportunity to outline problems they were encountering.

The Chief Officer said that he supported the comments made but clarified that the proposals were not for the HIW to replace the CHC.  He agreed that there was a need to retain the experience and knowledge of volunteers and suggested that the response be strengthened to reflect the comments made by Councillor Mackie.  He also agreed to question whether the proposals had been modelled on the Scottish system.   

Councillor Andy Dunbobbin commented on the value of collaborative working and the positives of 3^rd sector involvement.  The Chief Officer agreed to ensure that the response included comments that the 3^rd sector should be a key part of future legislation. 

Councillor Hilary McGuill welcomed the idea of person centred care but was concerned that no funding would be forthcoming as part of the changes in legislation and because of this she felt that often patients were moved from hospital to a nursing home because of financial constraints.  She felt that the money should always follow the person.

The Chief Officer suggested that the draft response be strengthened to reflect the concerns. 

            RESOLVED:

(a)  That the report be noted; and

(b)  That the response to Welsh Government be strengthened to reflect the concerns raised by the Committee.

To receive an update from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and consider the Together for Mental Health in North Wales Implementation Plan.

 (a)      That the Committee supports the Together for Mental Health in North         Wales Implementation Plan; and

(b)       That Dr Gareth Bowdler be invited to attend a future meeting of the Committee in order to discuss a broader agenda on where the Health Board were making progress and continued areas of concern.

The Chair welcomed Rob Smith, Area Director East, Lesley Singleton, Head of Strategy and Partnerships for Mental Health and Jane Bryant, Area Nurse Director of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to the meeting.

            Lesley Singleton, Head of Strategy and Partnerships for Mental Health provided background to the development of the Mental Health Strategy and explained that the special measures report had identified the need to develop the Mental Health Strategy.  The new strategy for mental health services was in its final stages of development and approval and set out a wide range of principles and actions to be taken forward up to 2022.  She highlighted the Implementation Plan, a copy of which had been provided to Members with the agenda and specifically detailed the overall approach to implementation, establishment of Local Implementation Teams, roles of implementation structures and proposed scheme of delegation.  Appendix 1 of the document showed a visual picture of the proposed arrangements for implementation with Appendix 2 showing a working example of the work arising for acute care, as an earlier priority of the implementation process.  She said she was happy to share a full copy of the draft Mental Health Strategy with the Committee.        

            Councillor Hilary McGuill welcomed the Mental Health Strategy but said that the implementation plan did not outline how resources would be used to prevent people turning up to A&E with mental health issues.  Lesley Singleton outlined the work that had been undertaken with the charity Cariad and the recent event with health professionals and police to ensure alternatives are put in place to avoid people turning up at A&E. 

            The Chair asked if GPs could provide information to patients with mental health issues to avoid them ending up in A&E.  Rob Smith outlined the work being undertaken to ensure that there would be a number of ways in which mental health patients could be directed to the relevant service areas.   

            Councillor Andy Dunbobbin welcomed the Mental Health Strategy.  He commented that only 7% of Armed Forces charities were dealing with mental health issues and asked how the Strategy could improve mental health services for Armed Forces personnel.  Lesley Singleton advised that she was a member of the Armed Forces Forum and said that the Mental Health Strategy would link into that Forum.  She outlined a pilot project which had been undertaken with Glyndwr University alongside NHS Wales which saw armed forces veterans receiving peer support to keep them engaged in receiving positive outcomes.           

            Questions provided by Members of the Committee had been submitted prior to the meeting.  The following responses were provided by Lesley Singleton, Head of Strategy and Partnerships for Mental Health:-

1.    There is concern about the lack of Mental Health beds or people who need in-patient support.  Will this Strategy help that and what are BCUHB currently doing about this?

Lesley Singleton confirmed that the Strategy would provide greater focus on pathways support, including in-patient provision but also alternatives to beds but that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

There were no members of the public and press in attendance.