Agenda item

(To receive a report from Sarah Fletcher (Chief Executive – Healthwatch Lincolnshire), which sets out the final report from Healthwatch Lincolnshire on Mental Health Services published in November 2015.  The report captures the key themes and promotes the voice of the service user to support the awareness of mental health and the need for improvement of services.  Sarah Fletcher (Chief Executive – Healthwatch Lincolnshire) will be in attendance for this item)

A report by Sarah Fletcher (Chief Executive – Healthwatch Lincolnshire) was considered which set out the final report from Healthwatch Lincolnshire on Mental Health Services published in November 2015.  The report captured the key themes and promoted the voice of the service user to support the awareness of mental health and the need for improvement of services.

Sarah Fletcher (Chief Executive – Healthwatch Lincolnshire) and Dr Brian Wookey (Board Member – Healthwatch Lincolnshire) were in attendance for this item of business.

Members were advised of the process involved which enabled Healthwatch Lincolnshire to produce this report.  The work was carried out in three stages from November 2014 until November 2015 with 345 individuals providing feedback on their experiences and perceptions of mental health services.

A broad piece of work had been undertaken during Spring 2014 which considered individual's views of services and support structures available within mental health.  A small group of 23 people were also asked to complete a paper-based survey.

An in-depth structured survey was also designed and distributed which looked at mental health services from the perspective of current service users in addition to those waiting to enter assessment, diagnosis and treatment pathways.  The questionnaire was circulated to a range of groups including mental health support groups, home start centres and professionals working within mental health and 126 were completed.

During 2015, three mental health organisations were invited to gather the views of their service user groups and asked that these views be shared as part of the Seldom Heard Voices programme.  196 responses to the project were received through a range of surveys and focus group activity.

Based on the feedback received, 25 areas for improvement were summarised in to the report:-

·       CAMHS and Transition to adult services;

·       Understanding and awareness of pathways and support networks;

·       Support and recognition (for mental health conditions);

·       Training (for GP's and other frontline staff);

·       Patient involvement (respecting feedback);

·       General support for patients and carers;

·       In-patient services;

·       Discharge from hospital or care;

·       Missing persons;

·       Out of hours;

·       Self-harm;

·       Waiting times (and referrals);

·       Perception of services; and

·       Complaints.

Members were given the opportunity to ask questions, during which the following points were noted:-

·       Concern was raised about mental health patients being arrested or dealt with by the police as a result of their actions.  The police were not always trained to deal with mental health patients and, for example, should patient possess a weapon with intent to harm themselves only, the police tended to be unaware of the patient's intent and were obliged to remove the weapon and make the area safe.  Unfortunately, in the main instances the individual did not receive the help that they needed, as the police were not always trained to identify and respond to those with mental health issues;

·       The transition of young people to adulthood was a concern to the Committee and it was felt that within the new transition service designs more recognition for additional support was required.  Also the age limit for transition into adulthood should be case specific as the mental age of some may be different to the actual age;

·       Access for families to the correct service remained a challenge.  Departments and telephone numbers changed regularly and therefore leaflets were regularly out of date which could exacerbate a challenging situation for a family;

·       It was stressed that Healthwatch did not deal with individual cases and that the example used was an illustration to raise the issues to the Committee.  It was suggested that feedback from the provider Trust on the actions taken as a result of this report be requested by the Committee;

·       The responses received to the areas within the report from providers and what actions they would take were included.  However, until the CQC report on Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) was published and the Clinical Strategy implemented, time would have to be given to LPFT to put some of those actions in place.  The intention was that Healthwatch would monitor the progress every three months;

·       The Committee were advised that senior management representatives of LPFT could not be present to address these issues and answer the concerns of the Committee;

·       The Committee were seriously concerned about the content of the responses from patients and families.  Healthwatch Lincolnshire confirmed that had any positive feedback been received then that would have also been included in the report but, in this case it was not.  Additionally, it was asserted by Healthwatch Lincolnshire that services were not being delivered to the level required.  However, recognition was given to the staff delivering the services as there was some good support available but, sadly, the length of time patients waited for treatment or diagnosis could mean the difference between life or death;

At 2.50pm, Councillor R C Kirk returned to the meeting.

·       It was suggested that a letter, on behalf of the Committee, be sent to Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to advise that this report had been considered and the Committee was sufficiently concerned to advise LPFT of their views.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report and comments be noted;

2.    That, following the outcome from the Care Quality Commission Inspection, the Committee review the improvements in mental health services provided by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and commissioned by South West Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group; and

3.    That a letter be sent to Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, from the Committee, to advise that this report had been considered and the Committee was sufficiently concerned to advise LPFT of their views.