Issue - meetings

To receive an update on improving Mental Health Services in Haringey.

The Committee received a written update on developments relating to Mental Health in Haringey, introduced by  Fiona Mckeown (Acting Borough Director – NHS Haringey).

Lisa Redfern (Assistant Director, Adults Services Commissioning – London Borough of Haringey) informed the Committee that the focus was on planning and partnership working (with the Council and its teams including Housing, Supporting People, Performance and Finance), improved practices for discharge planning, consultation and communication to ensure the involvement of partners, service users, carers and other stakeholders.

The Committee agreed the importance of joined up working and good communication between all partners (including floating support teams) to ensure the correct support for service users.

Mr Lee Bojtor (Director of Operations – NHS Haringey) explained to the Committee that historically mental health care had been institutionalised but the emphasise was now for less resources to be spent on wards and more to be spent on developing home and community services and focussing on rehabilitation.

Ms Mckeown added that discussions were taking place to agree partnerships and objectives particularly regarding rehabilitation and how the NHS and Housing teams would work together to ensure quality services to a high standard.

In response to the Committee’s enquiries as to whether there would be any consultation about the future of intensive psychiatric care. Mr Bojtor explained that due to a fire forcing another service to move there had been an urgent move of four psychiatric intensive care beds to Edgware.  There would need to be a consultation about the long-term future of intensive psychiatric care and Mr Bojtor assured the Committee that it would be informed and involved in this.  The Committee and NHS representatives agreed that consultation and communication about changes to services needed to be improved.

In response to the Committee’s questioning the progress of the Mental Health Trust (MHT) gaining Foundation Trust Status Mr Bojtor explained that a business plan would be submitted to NHS London and, if successful, the MHT should be accredited Foundation Status in Spring 2010.

The Committee asked whether the recession had impacted the demand for mental health services. Mr Bojter stated that there had been increase in services to treat depression and anxiety, rather than an increase in demand for acute services.

RESOLVED

That the update on Mental Health Services in Haringey be noted.

The meeting ended at 20:05pm.