Agenda item

Councillor Shori, Executive Member, Adult Care, Health and Housing will report at the Meeting.

Further to Minutes HSC.878 and HSC.879 of the Health Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 March 2013, Councillor Shori, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Housing and Dr Jeffrey Schryer, GP Lead, Mental Health, Bury Clinical Commissioning Group presented the Committee with the updated Action Plans for the Adult Autism Strategy and the Mental Health Strategy.

It was explained that the strategies were owned jointly by the local authority and the NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group and aimed to improve services and support for all residents in Bury.

The actions plans were attached to the reports and Members were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:-

·        Councillor Simpson referred to the Mental Health Strategy and work that was being done in relation to crisis management and life events and asked what would happen at these times.

Dr Schryer explained that work was being undertaken by a number of different partners and agencies and more data was being collected which mapped these services. A steering group was in the process of being established which would take ownership of the Mental Health Strategy and the implementation of the Action Plan.

·        Councillor Simpson also referred to the possibility of increasing the amount of self help available and asked whether this would be considered.

Dr Schryer explained that engagement was being carried out with the voluntary sector in relation to self help provision.

·        Mrs Headley asked what work was being carried out to improve the rate of diagnosis of mental health conditions.

Dr Schryer explained that the CCG were working with providers and commissioners including the police to look at the bigger agenda. From April 2014 the work programme would be developed across Greater Manchester and would require input from a wide range of partners.

Councillor Shori explained that there was no other option but to change the way of working in matters regarding mental health. Recent figures had shown that 1 in every 4 people would be diagnosed as having a mental health condition at some point in their lives.

·        Councillor Stella Smith referred to the Autism Strategy and the need to build confidence before reducing support.

Councillor Shori explained that providers were aware that they had to be more flexible in the support they provided and the way in which they worked.

·        Councillor Bury referred to the figures available in relation to actions and outcomes and asked if there were any measurable outcomes that the Committee could monitor.

Dr Schryer explained that it was very difficult due to a lack of available data. A database would be developed and the information from this would be available when it was ready.

·        Councillor Fitzwalter asked at what age a person becomes an adult.

Dr Schryer explained that there was a review being carried out regarding the Children and Adult Mental Health Service looking at services.

Councillor Shori explained that there was already work ongoing between Children’s and Adult’s services looking at what was available regarding support and transition.

·        Councillor Fitzwalter also asked that the Autism Strategy include the transition from school to work.

·        Councillor O’Hanlon referred to the lack of measurable targets within the Action Plans and asked how cost and benefits could be measured if there were no figures on people being signposted.

It was explained that figures would be collected to give more of an understanding of what the need was across the borough regarding support for both Mental Health and Autism.

• Councillor O’Hanlon asked whether there should be an individual point of contact so that customers did not feel like they were being passed from pillar to post when making contact.

It was explained that all comments would be taken on board.

• Councillor Walker referred to people taking recreational drugs regularly which can lead to mental health issues further down the line which could lead to a stay in a mental health facility. Councillor Walker asked what was being done about this issue and whether there were mental health workers in each GP surgery. Councillor Walker also referred to the need for good quality mental health workers.

Councillor Shori explained that Bury ILD were an excellent service that promoted independent living and offered support.

Dr Schryer agreed that there were links between taking recreational drugs and mental health issues and explained that the Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy looks at work around this issue.

It was also reported that 60% of the borough’s GP practices had mental health workers based at the surgeries as it was easier for patients to access the services closer to home.

• Councillor Holt referred to the Dementia Advisory Service that was referred to within the Mental Health Action Plan and asked how this would work and how would a person be recognised as suffering from dementia.

It was explained that a new specification had been developed for the Dementia Advisory Service which was more robust and not just about health and caring but also issues such as power of attorney.

It was also reported that Bury was a ‘Dementia Friendly Borough’ and was working on promotion, support and raising awareness of dementia.

It was agreed:

1.                That Councillor Shori and Dr Schryer be thanked for their input and attendance at the meeting.

2.                That an update on the progress made be brought to this Committee at its October 2014 meeting.