Agenda item

Report of the  Head of Consumer Experience and Engagement, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, requesting that the Panel note and comment on proposals to relocate Adult Mental Health Services in the Southampton area and to note the consultation activity in relation to Older People’s Mental Health, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Consumer Experience and Engagement, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, requesting that the Panel note and comment on proposals to relocate Adult Mental Health Services in the Southampton area and to note the consultation activity in relation to Older People’s Mental Health.  (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

The Panel received a presentation from Dr Lesley Stevens, Clinical Director and Dr Tom Schlich, Clinical Service Director of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Adult Mental Health Directorate, in connection with proposals to relocate Adult Mental Health Services in the Southampton area.

Pam Sorenson, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, was present and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The presentation included an outline of current services and the background leading up to the changes, main themes included:

·  The need to ensure patient independence and provide choice and empowerment in patient care through individualised packages of care

·  A focus on recovery

·  Greater flexibility in service responses to need

·  Alternatives to in-patient care

·  The importance of the issue of the use of acute beds

Current services through integrated Health and Social Care Services included Acute Care, Community Services and Rehabilitation:-

·  The Acute Care Pathway consisting of possible residential or more intensive care was outlined

·  The Community Services Pathway involved:

o  Community Mental Health Teams linked to GPs

o  Early Intervention

o  Assertive Outreach

·  The Rehabilitation Pathway included in-patient beds provided at Abbotts Lodge, Forest Lodge, Crowlin House, Milton House and links with supported accommodation.  A lot of services had been built up in the past ten years in this area of service.

The proposed Future Model of Service was described in detail, some of the main points included:-

·  Single point of access to services consisting of: 24 hour duty service including 24 hour phone service (a service not currently available), advice and signposting to other servicesincluding initial assessment, counselling, which would provide a better service for patients, carers and GP referrals

Benefits of the new model were:

o  Simplified assessment

o  Integrated community service

o  Personalised, recovery focused and local care

o  Rapid 24 hour access

o  Partnership with carers

o  Closer working with other care providers

The Panel noted that whilst there had been no formal consultation with service users there had been involvement throughout the process of developing the proposed new model.

The Panel were provided with a verbal update on the consultation activity in relation to proposals affecting provisions for Older People’s Mental Health in the Southampton area. 

Harry Dymond, Southampton Local Involvement Network, was present and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel noted that five events had been held in May that had provided direct feedback to the effect that there was general support for the proposals however, the main issue related to access and travel implications for service users which the Panel felt needed to be further addressed.  The consultation was now at an end and the feedback currently being analysed.  A further update on the consultation would be brought to the next meeting of the Panel on 26^th July 2011.

RESOLVED

(i)  that having had regard to the level and range of engagement activity in respect of proposals to relocate Adult Mental Health Services in the Southampton area, formal consultation in respect of these proposals was not necessary; and

(ii)  that Southern Health have properly and adequately consulted with regard Older People’s Mental Health services in the Southampton and South West Hampshire area.