Agenda and minutes

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There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

This report summarises key developments in Fylde Coast mental health services delivered by LSCFT as an update to the Committee. It will cover:

• IRS – the Initial Response Service
• Wesham Rehabilitation Centre
• Patient flow work at The Harbour, Blackpool
• Key nursing appointments
• Work stream to improve the Mental Health Urgent Assessment Centre (MHUAC) at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
• Reducing restrictive practice improvement work at The Harbour.

Mr Andrew Williams, Network Director Operations Fylde Coast, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) presented the report to the Committee which highlighted the six key areas of development for the Trust:

• The Initial Response Service (IRS)
• Wesham Rehabilitation Centre
• Patient flow work at The Harbour, Blackpool
• Key nursing appointments
• Work stream to improve the Mental Health Urgent Assessment Centre (MHUAC) at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
• Reducing restrictive practice improvement work at The Harbour.

With regards to the Initial Response Service, it was noted that there had been challenges in acquiring an estate within Blackpool from which to provide the call handling service and therefore a decision had been taken to provide that aspect of the service centrally in order to progress with the implementation of the service on the Fylde Coast.

Members noted that initially it had been cited as a key benefit of the scheme that the whole of the service would be provided from Blackpool and queried whether the new approach would have a detrimental impact. In response, Mr Chris Oliver, Interim Chief Executive, LSCFT advised that the inability to identify an estate had led to a reconsideration of the best way to provide the service. The central provision of the call handling aspect would be cost saving and allow funds to be utilised in other ways whilst the clinical aspects of the service would be provided in Blackpool as had been proposed and located at the Harbour. The central provision would also provide a quicker mobilisation as staff were already in place and training had been provided.

In response to further questions, Mr Oliver advised that there would be no negative impact on Blackpool residents of the new proposal and it was expected that the IRS would be available in Blackpool from March 2023. He added that the IRS was not a nationally mandated service but one which had been identified by the Trust as being positive for patients. Lessons had been learnt from its provision in other areas and could therefore be applied immediately in Blackpool.

The Committee highlighted the difficulties in recruitment as a major concern and queried whether appointments would be made in time for a service launch in March 2023. In response, representatives from the Trust acknowledged that recruitment was a challenge across all areas of the NHS but that a lot of work had gone into making sure the jobs on offer were interesting and recruitment was carried out innovatively. Ms Amy Davidson, Network Director Nursing and Quality Fylde Coast highlighted that a ‘career on a page’ had been developed to demonstrate how new recruits could progress their careers at the Trust and was also participating in a large international recruitment campaign, offering appropriate practical and pastoral support for appointments. It was considered that locating the service at the Harbour would also make the positions more attractive and the fact that it was a new and innovative service also attracted people to the roles.

Mr Williams went on to report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.