Issue - meetings

Purpose of the item: To provide an update to the Adults and Health Select Committee on progress since the October 2022 meeting.

Witnesses:

Mark Nuti, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health

Liz Bruce, Joint Executive Director Adult Social Care and Integrated Commissioning

Liz Uliasz, Chief Operating Officer

Lucy Gate, Public Health Principal

Jonathan Perkins, Independent Chair Surrey Mental Health System Delivery Board

Graham Wareham, Chief Executive - Surrey and Borders Partnership (SaBP) NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Helen Rostill, Deputy Chief Executive - Surrey and Borders Partnership (SaBP) NHS Foundation Trust

Jonathan Fisher, Chair – Surrey Coalition of Disabled People

Maria Millwood, Non-Executive Director – Healthwatch Surrey

ImmyMarkwick, Mental Health Lead, Independent Mental Health Network

Patrick Wolter, Chief Executive – Mary Frances Trust

Key points raised in the discussion:

1.    The Chair asked about unmet need in the system and what plans there were to improve data collection. The Deputy Chief Executive stated that current modelling showed that only a third of need is being met in Surrey in line with national trends so there was a lot to do and that the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment stated the need for improved measurements of need based on studies within Surrey.  There also needed to be more focus on reporting and measuring local needs accurately instead of the high level of local variations in the level of reporting. There was a willingness in the system to work together to identify this level of data and the impact of interventions. This would help to target resources more effectively. The Chief Operating Officer advised the Committee that Adult Social Care was developing a business case to allow them to increase their staffing levels to meet need.

2.    In response to the witnesses’ emphasis on a holistic approach to mental health a Member asked for their views on the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner’s statement that Surrey Police would not be attending all mental health incidents. The Chief Executive of SaBP said that there was ongoing joint work with Surrey Police and recognition that the force would continue to be involved when their unique skills were appropriate. There were plans to allow the Police not to have to wait with people in a state of distress in Emergency Departments by creating mental health clinical decision units. Partners would work through the new guidance for Police attendance.

3.    A Member queried the impact of social media on service demand. The Chief Operating Officer reported that they had seen an increase in referrals for children and young people. Social media could be a factor in this but could not directly attribute social media to these referrals. The Chief Executive of SaBP agreed that social media could be an aggravating factor but not an exclusive reason in its own right.

4.    On the topic of the national funding allocation the Independent Chair advised that when developing the Mental Health Improvement Plan they chose to prioritise other areas they could influence within Surrey rather than on lobbying for greater funding from central government. It was important to have good data in Surrey  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27