Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation from the Mental Health Trust (MHT) – Haringey on the development of Mental Health Services.

The Committee received the presentation on the development of Mental Health Services 2010-2015, presented by Andrew Wright and Pete Sudbury (Barnet, Enfield and Haringey (BEH) Mental Heath Trust (MHT)) including the reduction of inpatient care, a recovery centre in each borough, strengthening home treatment services and developing services in primary care and case workers in specialist care as well as developing child, adolescent, dementia and forensic services.

In response to the Committee’s questions and concerns the following was noted.

The implication of the inpatient developments was that there would be a reduced number of beds which meant that the viability of St Anne’s Hospital would need to be reviewed in future as the current four units would not be sustainable.

The Committee requested a briefing note detailing how placing mental health service users in bed and breakfast accommodation would be avoided, including the proposals for a recovery house at St Anne’s hospital (action 90.1).

In relation to the transfer of Enfield Community Services it was noted that all Primary Care Trusts would go through the competitive process of tendering for the external provision of mental health services.  The BEH MHT would become providers for Enfield’s services and BEH MHT had also put forward proposals for Barnet and Haringey.

It was recognised that many homeless people had mental health issues and such patients could be placed in the proposed recovery units (with the involvement of other relevant partners such as housing) rather than in hospital beds. Beds would, however, always be available for acute cases.

The Committee emphasised the importance of partnership working and noted that the MHT worked closely with community services, social care and individuals in service centres and involved patients and their carers in decision making.

It was reported that black and ethnic minorities were entering mental health services later in life especially due to the stigma attached to St Anne’s Hospital.

The Committee asked for information on the number of service users utilising the day centre at the Haynes Day Centre at the Hornsey Health Centre (action 90.2) following a tour and information on under utilisation of the excellent facilities.

In response to concerns raised by a member of the public in attendance at the meeting the Chair would write to NHS partners to inform them that the Save St. Anne’s Hospital Group had not been consulted on proposals to the hospital (action 90.3).

RESOLVED that the presentation be noted.