Agenda and minutes

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(b)   prejudicial interest

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There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To provide an update on Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) and partners’ progress in making improvement on the actions identified within the Care Quality Commission inspection report, the outcomes of the external review undertaken, the impact of the pandemic and the discussions and recommendations made at the previous meetings of the Committee.

Caroline Donovan, Chief Executive, Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation NHS Trust (LSCFT) presented the report to the Committee and highlighted the improvement journey of mental health services in spite of the pandemic. She noted the significant impact of the pandemic of mental health services across the country and the fact that the number of presentations at the Emergency Department (ED) were the highest on record. Despite the high volume of patients, 100% had been seen within four hours, with 95% assessed within one hour.

Ms Donovan advised that LSCFT had introduced a new organisational structure based on geography and had opened new urgent mental health assessment centres across the region which had been cited as best practice by the Secretary of State. She noted the significant investment made in community teams, the 24/7 crisis telephone line and the new crisis lounge.

The Committee was informed that significant work had also been carried out at The Harbour, which was the in-patient mental health hospital in Blackpool, which had transformed services provided and resulted in reduced length of stay and a more positive experience for patients.

It was noted that there remained challenges with patient capacity and that work was being carried out in order to create additional beds through investment. Ms Donovan advised that sites in Whalley, Wesham and South Cumbria had been identified for a total of 90 new beds, however, these would take time to be online.

Ms Donovan reported that LSCFT worked closely with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTH) in the provision of services through the Blackpool Victoria Hospital and that some services were the responsibility of BTH. Mr Michael Chew, Divisional Director of Operations: Families and Integrated Community Care provided an overview of the early intervention and prevention service and the innovative ways used to engage with patients during the pandemic. He added that there remained significant pressures on the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and that despite those pressures the CASHER Service (Child and Adolescent Support and Help Enhanced Response) in particular continued to operate successfully.

Members noted that the report stated that the memory assessment service had exceeded targets, however, there was no data provided to support how many patients had been seen through the service. Mr Mark Worthington, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, LSCFT noted that there had been an average of 107 referrals per month to the service, with August 2021 accounting for the highest number of referrals. It was noted that there were no concerns that the pandemic had prevented access to services.

In response to a question, Ms Maria Nelligan, Chief Nurse and Quality Officer, LSCFT noted that the peer support scheme put in place had been particularly successful in aiding improvement in The Harbour. She noted that there were currently 10 peer workers operational in the hospital and that both patients and staff had commended their value with more peer support workers being requested. It was noted that an evaluation had been carried out on the scheme,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To approve the final report of the Drug Related Deaths Scrutiny Review and submit it to the Executive for consideration.

The Committee considered the final report of the Drug Related Death Scrutiny Review Panel.

The Committee agreed to approve the final report for submission to the Executive.

To approve the final report of the Meals on Wheels Scrutiny Review and submit it to the Executive for consideration.

The Committee considered the final report of the Meals on Wheels Scrutiny Review Panel.

The Committee agreed to approve the final report for submission to the Executive.