Issue - meetings

Erville Millar, Chief Executive, Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust, Lauretta Kavanagh, Director of Commissioning – Adult Mental Health Services and Substance Misuse and Marion Dinwoodie, Chief Executive, Medway PCT, Steve Phoenix, Chief Executive, Julia Ross, Director of Civic Engagement, Bob Deans, Director of Commissioning and Performance and Debbie Stock, Programme Manager for Mental Health, West Kent PCT will be in attendance for this item.

(Peter Hasler, Director of Nursing and Human Resources, Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust, Lauretta Kavanagh, Director of Commissioning – Adult Mental Health Services and Substance Misuse, and Marion Dinwoodie, Chief Executive, Medway PCT, Steve Phoenix, Chief Executive, Julia Ross, Director of Civic Engagement, Bob Deans, Director of Commissioning and Performance and Debbie Stock, Programme Manager for Mental Health, Dr James Thallon, Medical Director, West Kent PCT, were in attendance for this item)

(1)       Mr Fittock declared that he had an interest in the Swanley Volunteer Centre and is a Trustee of the Invicta Advocacy Network (Dartford).  Mr London declared he is a Member of Sevenoaks MIND.

(2)       Further to Minute 37 of 2006, Mr Hasler gave a presentation (on behalf of Erville Millar, who was regrettably ill and unable to attend the meeting) on the first year’s operation of the Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust.  A copy of the presentation is attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

(3)       Following the presentation Members of the Committee and others present raised a number of questions.

(4)       Lord Bruce-Lockhart asked about the reasons for increasing demand for mental health services across different age groups. Mr Hasler responded that there was an ageing population in the UK and, as a result, there were more cases of dementia – but people with this condition could now be managed at home for longer than previously. As far as young people were concerned, the Trust was working closely with schools in order to take a more preventative approach.    Lord Bruce-Lockhart asked whether there were clear statistics on dementia, for instance from bodies such as the Alzheimer’s Society.  Mrs Dinwoodie, Chief Executive of Medway PCT, said that this was a question for commissioners as well as providers. Demand and the patient pathway needed to be in alignment; this would be achieved through Local Area Agreements and needs assessments.

(5)       Mr Fittock asked about the audit of Kent Drugs and Alcohol Action Team (KDAAT) in 2006, in which the service had been assessed as ‘fair’, and whether measures were being taken to improve the service. Mr Hasler said that the audit of the service had pre-dated its transfer to the voluntary sector.  The current providers, KCA and Turning Point, both had good histories and he was confident that there would be improvement in the service.

(6)       In response to a question about early intervention for young people and the need for further work, Ms Kavanagh responded that the KDAAT was a multi-agency strategic partnership, chaired by the Managing Director of Communities at Kent County Council (Ms Amanda Honey).  She said that she would provide a written answer to Mr Fittock.  With regard to early intervention services for young people, national targets had been achieved. A new model of care had been implemented for 14–35-year-olds who were experiencing their first episode of psychosis.

(7)       Mr Fittock asked about a recent report in The Lancet, according to which mental-health wards were at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44