Issue - meetings

To consider a report of Andy Styring, Director of Operations, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The Committee considered a report on Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) Community Mental Health Service Redesign. 

CWP were proposing to introduce the “Stepped Approach to Recovery” (StAR).  This was intended to contribute towards required savings of £13m over the next 3 years as well as improving care pathways and producing better outcomes for patients.  The StAR approach had been selected following a review of both current services and alternative models.  The StAR model was recovery, health and wellbeing focused.  Staff were based in Community teams divided into functions based on complexity and needs; service users were cared for within the function that would best meet their needs. 

The StAR approach had a number of benefits including:

      Improved access to Community Mental Health Teams including at weekends;

      Access to health and wellbeing clinics in local areas;

      Contact made within 24 hours of referral;

      Carers ability to access the above services;

      A single assessment at the start of the pathway;

      A flexible and responsive service providing the ability to step up or down the clinical pathway according to need;

      Improved access to consultant psychiatrist for service users, carers and GPs;

      Patients would be seen in the most appropriate setting.

CWP was aware that this could potentially cause anxiety to service users due to a change in their care arrangements but had plans in place to address this including giving people the opportunity to discuss the implications with their Care Coordinator. 

The proposals were going out to public consultation from 10 September – 3 December, and would include public meetings with one arranged on Wednesday 31 October at Macclesfield Football Club. 

In discussing the report, Members made the following points:

      It was important to ensure that service users were able to access independent advocacy support if they did not have their own support;

      Reference was made to the Suicide Strategy which was reported to the Joint Scrutiny Committee; that Committee was advised that there was no formal follow up of patients after discharge from hospital and after 7 days, staff were often unaware of their whereabouts.  It was requested that this was investigated and addressed;

      Whether alternative consultation arrangements could be arranged that were during the evening?  In response, the Committee was advised that any suggestions for alternative consultation events would be welcome.

RESOLVED:  that the consultation arrangements and proposals be noted and an update be provided after the consultation is complete.