Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Health Scrutiny Panel held on 12 December 2022.

The minutes of the Sub-committee meeting held on 18th October 2022 and 6th December 2022 were approved as a correct record of proceedings.

TO FOLLOW

Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, Richard Fradgley, East London NHS Foundation Trust, and Angela Burns, Public Health Programme Manager Young Adults, opened a discussion to understand why the BAME community face challenges in accessing mental health services and suggested ways to address it.

Further to questions from the Sub-Committee, Richard Fradgley and Angela Burns;

·       Noted the details of the NHS ‘Ethnic Inequalities in Healthcare Review’ and the disparities received by BAME residents in relation to mental health, which creates a lack of trust within the community.

·       Explained that following ‘Let’s Talk’ focus group discussions, four recommendations were made to generate change, ensure staff are trained to be more culturally aware and accountable to the service user. Adopting a holistic approach will achieve accessibility within health services.

·       Noted that further work is being undertaken to transform the community mental health services. Newly created posts for around seven ‘community connectors’, working in multidisciplinary teams and employed by voluntary sector organisations to support residents. The Women’s Inclusive Team provide recovery programmes and Dialogue Plus have produced promising results supporting residents.

·       Explained the Tower Hamlets Together programme aims to improve equality outcomes with talking therapies, focused primarily on the Bangladeshi community.

·       Noted that engagement is ongoing with religious community leaders and faith groups to address cultural issues and develop culturally competent communication. This includes partnership with the Bangladeshi Mental Health Forum to assist in managing mental health issues.

·       Clarified that there are a range of services in the borough to assist with serious mental health issues, including Crisis Line, in-patient wards in Acute Adult Care, community mental health teams and transformation projects.

·       Noted that a Residents Forum, similar to one available prior to the pandemic is in consideration, so services can be rated by the service user.

The Chair thanked Richard Fradgley and Angela Burns for their feedback on the presentation and noted that more investment is required to promote consistent mental and physical health services for residents.

RESOLVED that

1.    The presentation be noted.

TO FOLLOW

Jeremy Wallman, NHS London, Head of Primary Care Commissioning, Dentistry and Pharmacy, and Kelly Nizzar, Regional Lead Dental, Optometry and Pharmacy at NHS England, gave overviews on the dental provision in Tower Hamlets, the challenges and pressures facing the sector during and after the pandemic and how best practice can be used to increase residents uptake within the borough.

Further to questions from the Sub-Committee, Jeremy Wallman;

·       Noted that patients can call 111 to receive 24/7 urgent care via a triage delivery service and depending on symptoms, can be referred to a practice for treatment.

·       Clarified the termination of NHS Dentist contracts across the sector took place due to Brexit and staff retention issues related to the pandemic. In these cases resources are either  reinvested to neighbouring practices or re-procured to the same area if viable. Tower Hamlets have not experienced any contract terminations or reductions in contracts.

·       Explained that patient numbers rose during the pandemic and subsequent quarantine measures, opening times and accessing care adversely impacted East London residents. Where practices have capacity to assist with extra patients these are used to decrease the numbers awaiting care.

·       Explained that there are challenges in maintaining practise delivery at 100% due to aforementioned staffing issues. The majority of borough contractors are delivering and can be incentivised  to overdeliver by 110% to enable the practice to continue serving residents.

·       Noted that the pilot schemes key aim is to improve access to dental health on a general level, although children’s access is a priority. The ‘Fluoride Varnish Programme’ was re-implemented after the pandemic as one example of commitment to children’s oral health.

·       Clarified that any resources from terminated contracts are recycled and  details will be fed through to the sub committee. Integrated Care Board (ICB) work in partnership with Public Health England (PHE) and needs assessments are routinely undertaken to ensure priority areas and wards receive dental practices to improve oral health.

·       Explained that as the procurement timeline is structured and the preferred approach is to increase existing practices where possible to alleviate the need.

·       Noted that details on adult health will be brought to the sub committee at the next meeting.

·       Clarified that partnerships with the ICB, the London patient boards and subsequent patient groups will work together to ensure residents feedback assists in moulding commissioning requirements of dental care.

The Chair thanked Jeremy Wallman and Kelly Nizzer for their feedback on the presentation and noted the importance of monitoring dental needs and wider health issues to ensure arrangements work in the best interests of the residents.

RESOLVED that

1.    The presentation be noted.

TO FOLLOW

Kathriona Davison, Barts Health NHS Trust, Chief Operating Officer, gave a verbal update on the current situation and plans regarding the NHS strikes, the likely impact on residents and their mitigation plans.

·       Clarified that  London Ambulance Service (LAS) and  physiotherapy strikes took place over the last few months; although these did not impact the service or patients care due to effective responses already in place. Further strikes are planned by LAS for March 2023 and pre-emptive measures have been taken. Further updates will be brought to the sub committee.

The Chair thanked Kathriona for the update and appreciated the current pressures on the service. It was noted that the Sub-committee will be monitoring the situation.

RESOLVED that

1.  The verbal update be noted.

The Chair requested Officers ensure presentations are submitted in a timelier manner to ensure Committee members can review prior to the meeting. The Chair called the meeting to a close and thanked the Sub-Committee members and stakeholders, for their attendance and participation.