Agenda item

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development updating the Board on the production of local healthcare providers’ Quality Accounts for 2012

(report attached)

The Board considered a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing an update on the production of local healthcare providers’ Quality Accounts for 2012, together with a copy of the Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s draft Quality Account for comment

Attending for this item to respond to questions from the Board were:

• Chris Butler (Chief Executive) – Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Michele Moran (Deputy Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nurse) – Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust;
• Lynn Parkinson (Deputy Director of Care Services) – Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The Board discussed the report and Quality Accounts, with the main issues arising from the discussion were as follows:

• The use of Patient Environment Action Teams (PEAT) that aimed to minimise the level of out of area placements. 

• The Scrutiny Board welcomed the plans to open a new 17-bedded secure rehabilitation in-patient facility that will reduce the reliance on out of area placements.  The Scrutiny Board recognised the benefits that being able to access services closer to home will bring to the experience of service users and their families/ carers. The Scrutiny Board also recognises the improvements that such a facility will bring to the use of resources across the local health and social care economy.
• The Scrutiny Board noted the section on the Care Quality Commission(CQC) within the Trust’s draft Quality Account inclusion.  Having considered the compliance reports published by the CQC and the associated responses from the Trust, the Scrutiny Board believed that a greater emphasis should be included in the finalised Quality Account that specifically captures the actions taken by the Trust and details the assurances provided to the Scrutiny Board. 
• The Scrutiny Board also believed there should be greater clarity around the current inspection regime, specifically in terms of the internal quality assurance processes implemented by the Trust.
• The Scrutiny Board noted that, earlier in the year, the Trust had provided anecdotal evidence suggesting there had been an increase in demand for services from people presenting with acute mental health crisis.  The Scrutiny Board had requested data to support the statement made by the Trust, but the only evidence as yet seen by the Scrutiny Board had been provided by a voluntary sector organisation. The need for statistics around the demand for mental health service in Leeds to be provided was re-emphasised.
• The Scrutiny Board welcomed the additional capacity proposed to be implemented in 2012/13 at the Becklin Centre – aimed at increasing the physical space and capacity of the Section 136 service and to provide a flexible care environment to allow a greater range of therapeutic activities to be provided.
• The Scrutiny Board recognised that not all Leeds’ mental health services are provided by the Trust, and that this amplifies the need for partnership working across the local health and social care economy – including voluntary, community and faith sector (Third Sector) organisations.  The Scrutiny Board welcomed the Chief Executive’s commitment for the Trust to work with the Third Sector, and believed that, moving forward, there should be greater emphasis on the Trust’s work across/ with Third Sector organisations.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the report and the information provided at the meeting.

(ii)  That the comments made by the Board be formally submitted for inclusion in the final version of the Trust’s Quality Account (2012)

During consideration of this matter, Councillor Armitage left the meeting