Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

The meeting was webcast on the Council’s website.

There were no apologies for absence.

It being a special meeting of the Committee, under the Council’s Constitution, Part 4, Section B, Paragraph 17, no other business was permitted to be considered.

This being a special meeting of the Committee, under the Council’s Constitution, Part 4, Section B, Paragraph 17, no other business was permitted to be considered.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest in relation to items on the agenda.

The Committee agreed to alter the order in which the items on the agenda were considered at the meeting.  The minutes reflect the order of items as listed on the agenda.

To receive and consider the NHS Haringey draft Oral Health Needs Assessment.

The Committee received the draft Oral Health Needs Assessment for the commissioning of local dental services for the next three years, presented by Tina Raphael (Dental Commissioning Manager, NHS Haringey) and Fiona Wright (Associate Director of Public Health – NHS Haringey).

Ms Raphael explained that figures for people accessing dental services and figures for general oral health in Haringey were above the London average although dental services were not spread evenly across the Borough.

The Committee expressed concerns that costs for dentists to be located in polyclinics and health centres discouraged them from setting up in these buildings.

Ms Raphael explained that prior to 2006 dentists could claim funding each time a patient was treated but a new system had recently been put in place where dentists were required to enter into a contract with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) in order to provide NHS services.  There were 50 Haringey dentists currently signed up to PCT contracts and they were monitored to ensure that they performed the level of activity as set out in their contract and that they provided all NHS services.

It was noted that Haringey was well served by dentists but that numbers of people using dental services had fallen since 2006.  It was noted that in some areas the uptake of services was low, but that this was not necessarily due to lack of provision but might be the result of a lack of knowledge about services. The committee expressed support for the proposal of a communications strategy to publicise available services and suggested that the Council might be able to assist in this.

A proportion of Haringey residents sought dental treatment in other boroughs, but this was matched by a roughly equal number of non-Haringey residents seeking dental treatment in Haringey. Haringey residents could call the Dental Access Helpline on 020 8370 8217 to find out where local dentists were located.  

The Committee expressed concerns about older people accessing services easily.  Ms Wright explained that there was limited data on the different groups and their access to dentistry.

Ms Raphael informed the Committee that data showed that older people were concerned about charges for dental treatment and noted the above mentioned Dental Access Helpline can give information about how older people could be assisted in paying for their treatment.

The Committee suggested the NHS conducted social marketing (marketing aimed at improving social well-being by changing attitudes and behaviour) to publicise the dental services available.

The Committee asked for a briefing note on the percieved demand for dentistry and laten capacity in the Borough.

The Committee also noted that in Scotland there was free dental care and wondered what the potential costs would be for a similar scheme in Haringey.

The Chair thanked NHS representatives for the report and requested an update be provided to the Committee in 6 months time.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

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.