Decision details

Maria O’Dwyer, the Director of Integrated Commissioning at Barnet CCG, introduced the report which provided an outline of the current Mental Health Contracts performance and also highlighted developments for local health provision.  The report also highlighted the joint work that was being undertaken with partner organisations in the London Boroughs of Enfield and Haringey in order to deliver the Crisis Concordat Plan. 

The Committee noted that Trust Development Agency (TDA) was working with the Secretary of State for Health to determine the Dalton Review categories for all 93 NHS Trusts in England which are not Foundation Trusts and that at its meeting on 22 January 2015, the TDA outlined its intention to work with NHS Trusts to improve quality and efficiency.

The Committee noted that there are four main areas where the NHS TDA is contributing to, or leading on, implementation of proposed changes.  These are:

·           The development of new models of care in “vanguard” sites.

·           The development of a new regime to create the conditions for success in the most challenged health economies.

·           Consideration of the proposed changes to the transactions process as proposed by the Dalton Review.

·           Contributing to NHS England’s ongoing review of the system’s improvement architecture.

Ms. O’Dwyer advised the Committee that a pilot was currently being considered that would encourage more people with mental health issues to be cared for at GP level.

The Vice Chairman commented that each year the Committee considered the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust Quality Accounts and noted that the support given to GPs by the Trust was not always of the best standard and suggested that there should be a network of GPs in addition to a helpline.  Dr. Charlotte Benjamin, a Governing Body member of the Barnet CCG, advised that the advice line had been very successful.  Ms. O’Dwyer advised that there was a need to be innovative about how services were delivered.

Responding to a question from a Member, Melanie Brooks, Assistant Director for Adult Social Care, at the London Borough of Barnet advised that any Section 75 arrangements should be designed to enable closer integration of social care and mental health. 

A Member questioned if any changes would need to be made to the GP Network if the programme was to be rolled out.  Ms. O’Dwyer advised that the earlier they were able to meet the needs of a patient, then the better chance that patient would have of receiving the best support. 

RESOLVED that the Committee note the report.