Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor John Oswell.  Councillor June Nelson was present as his substitute.

RESOLVED:  That all items of business be considered in public. 

It was noted that the witnesses and officers had been omitted from the minutes.  It was also noted that the Working Group undertaking a review of underage alcohol related presentations at A&E would comprise three Conservative Councillors and two Labour Councillors. 

RESOLVED:  That, subject to the above amendments, the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2015 be agreed as a correct record. 

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and congratulated Dr Steve Hajioff on his recent media exposure and his role in the development of NICE guidelines to reduce the number of people who died as a result of late cancer diagnoses. 

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL)

Dr Pramod Prabhakaran, Divisional Medical Director for Hillingdon, stated that the CQC had undertaken an inspection of CNWL in February 2015.  The resultant report, which had been included on the agenda, had been discussed at a summit meeting with the CQC on 18 June 2015.  This report covered the community and mental health service provision so effectively comprised 14 reports which then determined the overall CQC rating (1 'inadequate', 10 'good', 1 'outstanding' and 2 'requires improvement').  In addition, CNWL had compiled a summary report for each of the boroughs for which it provided services - this had been circulated to Members in hard and soft copy prior to the meeting.  Ms Kim Cox, Borough Director, would forward an updated version of this report to Democratic Services for circulation to the Committee. 

Members were advised that the inadequate rating included in the CQC report had been in relation to acute wards for adults of working age and Psychiatric Intensive Care Units.  It was noted that the general bed occupancy had been 120% but that the staffing levels had not reflected this increased activity.  Furthermore, there had been instances where patients had been moved temporarily to older adults units.  Dr Prabhakaran advised that action had since been taken to address this issue (for example, beds were now monitored by staff at least twice each day and bed occupancy in Hillingdon had reduced to 100% as a result of active monitoring and a clear escalation process). 

It was noted that the bed pressures experienced by CNWL had been in relation to the general adult population.  However, as there had been some excess bed capacity on the dementia ward, these beds had been used to alleviate pressure elsewhere, for example, in April and May 2015 there had been 125 occupied bed days in Hillingdon due to foreign nationals coming into the Borough via Heathrow airport.  Ms Cox advised that it was important to proactively manage the bed spaces whilst ensuring that alternatives were available by strengthening the community mental health team offering and working closely with the local authority. 

With regard to the 'requires improvement' rating for community based mental health services for adults of working age, it was noted that the CQC had looked at the capacity for community care coordination.  Although there had been no waiting list by the time the CQC inspection had been undertaken, this had not always been the case.  In addition, the ward for older people with mental health problems had been rated as 'requires improvement' due to the layout of the single sex accommodation in relation to the location of facilities and the condition of the walls, carpets, etc.  These environmental issues were being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Consideration was given to the update provided by Councillor Corthorne in relation to two of the recommendations that had arisen from the Policing and Mental Health review and agreed by Cabinet at its meeting on 23 April 2015.  It was noted that updates in relation to the remaining recommendations from this review (and those from other reviews undertaken by the Committee and agreed by Cabinet during the 2014/2015 municipal year) would be presented to the Committee towards the end of this municipal year.

RESOLVED:  That the update be noted. 

Consideration was given to the Committee's Work Programme for 2015/2016.  It was noted that the following issue would be included for consideration by the Committee during this municipal year:

·         GP finances and the associated pressures - what would GP practices look like in five years?

Consideration would be given to whether this would need to be undertaken as a single meeting or major review.

RESOLVED:  That:

1.    the topics agreed by the Committee be added to the Work Programme; and

2.    the report be noted.