To consider reports and presentations on the provision of mental health services across Herefordshire. This will include updates on the progress of the current community mental health services transformation programme. This will also address the impact of Covid19 on the mental health of local people. And the contribution Talk Community can make to mental wellbeing in Herefordshire.

The chairperson advised that the purpose of this item was to consider the provision of mental health services across Herefordshire.

1.           Introduction

Ewen Archibald (Head of community commissioning and resources) outlined: recent structural changes in terms of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (HWCCG) and the transfer of Herefordshire mental health and learning disability services from 2gether NHS Trust to Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (HWHCT); further changes going forward in relation to the Integrated Care System and the mental health collaborative; efforts to understand the impact of COVID-19 on mental wellbeing, and how services and support in the community could respond to the needs of local people; the potential impact of other societal changes and events, such as flood emergencies; the development and extension of the role of Talk Community; and the review of the arrangements under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 relating to the provision and funding of support to people who have previously been detained in hospital.

2.           Presentation slides on Mental Health Services in Herefordshire

Presentation slides by HWCCG and HWHCT were included in the agenda (pages 39-44) on ‘System changes’, ‘Impact of COVID-19’, ‘Transformation of Community Mental Health Services’, ‘New developments’, and ‘Planning for 2021-22’. 

The slides were presented at the meeting by Jenny Dalloway (Lead for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Children, HWCCG), Susan Harris (Executive Director of Strategy and Partnerships, HWHCT) and David Thomas (Deputy Associate Director Primary Care and Community Mental Health Services, HWHCT).

3.           Contribution on behalf of the Primary Care Networks (PCNs)

Dr Simon Lennane, (Clinical Director for South West Herefordshire Primary Care Network, Mental Health GP Lead for HWCCG, and Trustee of Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust) commented on: the significant increase in GP consultations; the impact of lockdown measures on people with cognitive difficulties; and the importance of preventative mental health, including through the work of the Talk Community programme; and issues associated with loneliness, lack of connections, and loss of confidence in communicating.

4.           Questions (part one)

The chairperson invited questions and comments from attendees, focussing on the transformation of mental health services.  The principal points of the discussion included:

a)           A committee member, noting historic difficulties with joint arrangements between Herefordshire and Worcestershire, questioned how impact would be monitored, especially in terms of the issues associated with rural sparsity and distribution of services.

Jenny Dalloway commented on: investments in Herefordshire; how access to specialist services benefitted both counties; the detailed information available to the CCG to monitor services where they were delivered; Herefordshire had a separate place identity to Worcestershire; PCNs were helping the system to understand population needs at the GP practice level; and how support could be accessed at a GP practice or a GP practice could refer people into a service.

Alicia Lawrence (Chief Executive Officer, Herefordshire Mind) added that the alignment of the transformation project with the PCN areas enabled greater reach in rural areas.

b)           The chairperson questioned how Herefordshire residents who did not have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57