Agenda item

Report of the Clinical Commissioning Groups

The Committee received a report and presentation relating to the temporary closure of George Bryan Centre (GBC) in Tamworth following a fire in February 2019. The Operations Manager MPFT outlined the background and current position for GBC and mental health services that previously were provided there. 

The Committee considered the proposals for engagement events and the process for deciding the long-term solutions for mental health serviceswhich would be based on the best balance of clinical evidence and evidence gained through public involvement.

The Committee noted that:

·       Since the fire, services had been provided at St George’s hospital in Stafford or through community mental health services, which had been developed during the closure to expand expertise and provision in the community. Staff from GBC had been either redeployed or re-trained. Work was underway to determine the future of the mental health services through engagement events and an options appraisal.

·       Previous engagement had informed the business case alongside the clinical evaluation, further engagement events, and equality impact assessments.All information gathered through listening and engagement was used to develop the Clinical Service Model which would be evaluated, and services shaped. 

·       The Clinical Service Model would also take into consideration the Integrated Care Strategy (ICS) programme for adult and older people’s mental health services across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent.

The following comments and responses to Members questions were noted:

·       The GBC had been insured by the Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT), detail of the insurance funding had been calculated on the damage extent and reasoning for the fire, this information was not available at the meeting but would be sent to Members.

·       MPFT consultation events included service users from GBC, other mental health services across Staffordshire and members of the workforce. A link to the survey was available on the website and would be shared with members alongside more detail on qualitative data requested.

·       It was confirmed that all service users were over 18 years old.

·       Members highlighted the need to hold face to face events to bring on board service users or carers who could reach out to people who had used or intend to use services. They indicated that the information would bring perspectives to shape services to what people want and need, and in doing so people would feel included. MPFT welcomed the opportunity to talk with Staffordshire Healthwatch about the co-production group, to engage face to face with individuals who had experience of services.

·       There had been no significant increase in serious mental health incidents drawing on other services such as police and ambulance in the communities during the lockdown period. It was noted that the way services were delivered during this period was different and not comparable to other periods. A ward had been available at St Georges hospital for short term stays and average length of stay during this period was 23 days, this benchmarked well across the country.

·       Members requested further data about re-admissions to make a useful comparison and highlighted the importance of clinical evidence to inform the business case.

·       Members thanked staff for work they had done in difficult circumstances.

·       It was explained that people liked local services, but they were not always the best pathway for the individual based on clinical health outcomes.

·       The Community Impact Assessment would identify issues such as transport and travel and mitigate against the impact on the individual. This would be part of the decision making process before a final decision was made.

·       It was explained that this work aligned to the wider mental health programme.

Resolved:

1. That the update report and presentation were noted.

2.    That Committee requested the link to more detailed information from engagement feedback, data of re-admissions to ensure clinical evidence was included in the business case and confirmation of the insurance funding details.

3. That the final draft proposal be considered by the Committee at a future meeting.