Agenda item

(To receive a report from Jane Marshall (Director of Strategy and Performance, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) which provides the Committee with information on proposed options on the future model of Learning Disability Services for the people of Lincolnshire)

Consideration was given to a report from Jane Marshall (Director of Strategy and Performance, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT)) which provided information on the proposed options on the future model of Learning Disability Services for the people of Lincolnshire.

Jane Marshall (Director of Strategy and Performance, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust), Allan Kitt (Accountable Officer, South West Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group) and Sharon Jeffreys (Chief Commissioning Manager, South West Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group) were in attendance for this item.

Jane Marshall (Director of Strategy and Performance, LPFT) introduced the report by giving the background to the proposed options.  Section 242 of the Health and Social Care Act 2016 was a statutory requirement for NHS bodies to consult with Overview and Scrutiny Committees, patients, public and stakeholders when consideration was given to a proposal for the substantial development of the health service or a substantial variation in the provision of a service.  Prior to 2015, learning disability services in Lincolnshire consisted of Long Leys Court (Lincoln), a unit of 16 beds with eight assessment and treatment beds and eight rehabilitation beds.  Community services included a dispersed range of health professionals located across the county.

In June 2015, Long Leys Court was closed temporarily following safety concerns of the unit.  The decision was taken by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) with the Clinical Commissioning Group and in partnership with the patients and carers/families of people within the unit at the time.  The temporary closure meant that the progress with the national Transforming Care programme was accelerated to enable a new model of care to be introduced.

Since 1 April 2016, a new fully developed integrated community service had been running effectively which had stopped waiting times between professionals, ensured most patients were treated at home and provided equal services across the county.  The service was delivered across Lincolnshire by a total of five multi-professional teams.  Four community hubs were also aligned with the Clinical Commissioning Groups with satellite bases around the county to reduce travel and to ensure local service delivery.

Following the successful implementation of the new model of care, LPFT believed that there was no longer a requirement for an inpatient unit such as Long Leys Court.  To ensure the best service was available to Lincolnshire residents, a consultation with stakeholders was required on the options for providing inpatient beds for the small number of people who needed that level of care.

The improvements to learning disability services had originally been planned to be part of the Lincolnshire Health and Care public consultation, however due to the successful implementation of the new service model, both the Transforming Care Board and Senior Managers from the service provider felt that it would be appropriate to carry out a focussed consultation with immediate effect.

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

·       The Transforming Care Agenda clearly stated that all patients must undergo a full review to decide if admission to hospital was required and, if deemed necessary, that this be as short a stay as possible.  Patients were previously hospitalised because they had a learning disability and this was not now the case as it was more beneficial for patients of this type to remain at home;

At 12.45pm, Councillor B W Keimach left the meeting and did not return.

·       In relation to the small percentage of patients placed out of county, at the present time, it was reported that one Lincolnshire patient had been admitted to a specialist ward in Mansfield, one in Hull and another with a private provider in Lincolnshire;

·       Since the closure of Long Leys Court and the implementation of the Transforming Care Agenda, 90% of potential admissions had been avoided.  Although this was challenging for staff there was a sense of achievement that people had been able to remain at home;

·       It was suggested that the use of closed questions within the consultation would restrict a full response.  It was explained that the questions had been constructed in such a way so as to enable people with learning disabilities to answer them.  Comments and suggestions from the Committee to improve these questions were welcomed but the Committee was asked to respect the notion that, for those people with learning difficulties, a different approach to the questions may be required.

In summing up, the Chairman asked the Committee to consider the proposed length of the consultation and if the suggested eight week consultation was appropriate or whether this should be kept in line with the Sustainability and Transformation Plan and be 13 weeks.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report and contents be noted; and

2.    That the length of the consultation be recommended by the Committee to remain parallel with the Sustainability and Transformation Plan and be open for 13 weeks.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting for lunch at 12.45pm and asked the Committee to reconvene at 2.00pm. 

NOTE:   At 2.00pm, the Chairman reconvened the meeting.  On return, the following Members and Officers were in attendance:-

Lincolnshire County Council

Councillors R L Foulkes, R C Kirk, S L W Palmer, Mrs S Ransome, Mrs J M Renshaw, Mrs C A Talbot (Chairman) and Mrs S M Wray.

Lincolnshire District Councils

Councillors P Gleeson (Boston Borough Council), Mrs P F Watson (East Lindsey District Council), J Kirk (City of Lincoln Council), C J T H Brewis (South Holland District Council (Vice-Chairman)), Mrs R Kaberry-Brown (South Kesteven District Council) and P Howitt-Cowan (West Lindsey District Council)

Healthwatch Lincolnshire

Mr P Keeling

Also in attendance

Liz Ball (Executive Nurse, South Lincolnshire CCG), Andrea Brown (Democratic Services Officer), Simon Evans (Health Scrutiny Officer), Nikki Silver (Chief Executive Officer, LIVES), Dr Simon Topham (Clinical Director, LIVES) and Chris Weston (Consultant in Public Health (Wider Determinants))