Agenda item
Tower Hamlets Mental Health Strategy
Recommendation: The Health and Wellbeing Board is recommended to approve the Tower Hamlets Mental Health Strategy.
Lead for item: Richard Fradgley, Lead Commissioner for Mental Health.
Minutes:
Richard Fradgley (Deputy Director of Mental Health and Joint Commissioing for the Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group and the Council) gave a detailed presentation of the strategy for the next five years. This covered the prevalence of mental health problems in the Borough and demand for the services; the recent successes in dementia care, crisis services for adults and accommodation.
The Board were advised of the steps in developing the strategy, based on community engagement, the visions, the issues and commitments for the various age groups. This included children and young people, where a key aim was increasing awareness in schools and access to services. The Board also considered the plans for adults and older people. It was recognised that loneliness and isolation was a key concern for older people. The Board noted the cross cutting aims such as addressing stigma and discrimination. There would be regular reports to the HWB on progress with the strategy including ‘dashboards’ for review by the Board.
A Member asked questions about dual diagnoses (where people presented with a mental health issue and as well as addictions) and the steps taken to address this. Mr Fradgley noted the extent of this problem as shown by the statistics. The Drugs and Alcohol Team were there to identify and deal with such issues within the mental health services.
The Board stressed the need for both the physical as well as the mental health care needs of patients to be brought together, as many patients often presented with mental health and physical problems. The Board were advised of the services offered to address this such as GP presence at mental health care centres. The service took a holistic approach to patients needs. John Wilkins (East London and the Foundation Trust) welcomed his Trust’s involvement in the strategy at an early stage. He also reported on the involvement of Barts Health clinicians in services to address the physical needs of patients.
A Member asked about the statistics. In particularly, the number of people with vascular dementia from the BME communities which made up over 50% of the community in Tower Hamlets. Certain BME communities were more at risk of Type 2 diabetes therefore were more at risk of developing vascular dementia in the long term. He sought assurances regarding the plans to address this expected rise in BME adults with vascular dementia. Mr Fradgley referred to the noticeable increase in diagnosis rates in this condition in the Bengali population, under the new service, which was predicted to continue. Mr Fradgley welcomed the increase in earlier detection. He highlighted the work of the outreach services in raising awareness and contributing to this success.
A Member asked about the key areas for improvement and how the concerns would be addressed. Mr Fradgley noted the need to focus on particular services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and older adults, judging by the feedback.
A Member considered that crisis management was a key issue.
Mr Fradgley outlined the nature of the crisis services. There was a single point of contact in the community and home treatment services. These very effective. As a result of this, bed occupancy rates were comparatively low. The service was committed to developing a pathway to further improve this service.
In response to further questions, Mr Fradgley reported that his service would be producing a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment factsheet on mental health and crime. The service was working with the Probation Services to deliver training and would be preparing plans with the Council and hospitals to address this issue.
The Chair thanked Mr Fradgley for the presentation and for the fantastic piece of work on behalf of the Board.
Resolved:
That the Tower Hamlets Mental Health Strategy be approved.
Supporting documents:
- 5 1 2014 1 22 HWBB coversheet for mental health strategy FINAL, item 3a PDF 133 KB
- 5 1 2014 1 22 Tower Hamlets Mental Health Strategy FINAL, item 3a PDF 626 KB
- 5 1 Tower Hamlets Mental Health Strategy Summary, item 3a PDF 1005 KB
- 5 1 2014 1 22 Tower Hamlets Mental Health Strategy Commissioning Plan FINAL, item 3a PDF 194 KB