Agenda item

Report of John Forde, Consultant in Public Health

The Board considered a report and received a presentation of John Forde, Consultant in Public Health which provided a summary and overview of the work undertaken to date and the findings underpinning the Mental Health and Well-being Assets and Needs Assessment. Information was provided on the background to the review; the policy context for the review; an overview of data; stakeholder engagement; and the next steps.

The last in depth Mental Health Needs Assessment in Coventry was published in 2008 and Mental Health was now being recognised as a priority in a number of areas. There was a recognised need to get a better understanding of current population needs, available assets and an overview of the current Mental Health services commissioned by the Local Authority and the Coventry and Rugby CCG. Following the receipt of information, a set of recommendations would be agreed which would inform the future commissioning of mental health services.

The review had been undertaken in the context of national policies and strategies, with the process being overseen by a Steering Group chaired by Councillor Hetherton, the City Council’s Mental Health champion. Membership details were set out in an appendix attached to the report. There had been a detailed analysis of relevant data alongside a comprehensive approach to stakeholder engagement. Data had been collated from a number of publicly available sources as well from local data reflecting service use. Attention was drawn to the monitoring of a General Practice over a two month period which included the full range of mental health related consultations.

Key findings included:

a) Factors associated with an increased risk of poor mental health and well-being were higher in Coventry than the national average.

b) Recent estimates suggested that approximately 67,028 people in Coventry aged 16-74 had a common mental health disorder e.g. anxiety, depression, phobias etc.

c) Rates of severe mental illness were broadly similar to or lower than the national average with the exception of emergency admissions for self-harming

d) The suicide rate in Coventry was 10 deaths per 100,000 population, slightly higher than the national average.

e) Mental Health Services commissioned by Coventry and Rugby CCG and the City Council from the NHS and voluntary sector providers cost £44.7m in 2014/15. 

f) The numbers of both outpatients and patients admitted to hospital because of their mental illness had decreased over the past 3 years.

g) There was an emerging consensus that from a client’s first presentation the overall model of care should be more integrated across primary care, social care, specialist care and the third sector.

h) Mental Health Services needed to change to be well-being and recovery focussed promoting control and achieving outcomes.

The Board were informed that a draft report detailing the review findings and provisional recommendations would be made available to commissioners at the Adult Joint Commissioning Board providing them with the opportunity to comment on priorities for action.

Members of the Board raised a number of issues including:

·  A request for additional information on the data provided including gender, a breakdown of ages, and ethnicity

·  The links between self-harm and suicide

·  An offer of assistance and support from the Police who were not represented on the Adult Joint Commissioning Board

·  The importance of involving all partners when determining future Mental Health Services and models of care

·  How the outcomes of the review would link to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

·  The importance of information sharing to achieve better outcomes for patients

·  How to ensure a smooth transition into Adult Mental Health services

·  How to support GPs to enable them to support their patients with mental health issues

·  The importance of received the views of Healthwatch to ensure that patient voices were heard.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The responsibility for moving the work forward be delegated to the Adult Joint Commissioning Board and that the Board ensure that all partners are involved in determining the way forward.

(2) The Adult Joint Commissioning Board be requested to develop a joint response to be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board in June 2015, or as soon as possible after this date, outlining a proposed way forward for Mental Health in the city.