Agenda item

Present virtually for this item: Taps Mutakati (Director for System Collaboration, NHS Kent and Medway), Sara Warner (Engagement Lead, NHS Kent and Medway), Matt Tee (Executive Director, NHS Kent and Medway), Rachel Bulman (Project Manager, NHS Kent and Medway), Cheryl Lee (Service Manager, KMPT), Dr. Adam Kasparek (Consultant Psychiatrist and Deputy Clinical Director, KMPT), Louise Clack (Programme Director, KMPT), and Graham Blackman (Deputy Director for KMPT)

1.    Mr. Mutakati introduced the slide deck that had been included in the agenda papers. The guests ran through the slides, highlighting the following:

        i.            There were currently three Health Based Places of Safety (HBPoS) locations across Kent and Medway, with 5 beds. Current journey times for patients could be up to 90 minutes, as they would be taken to whichever site had a space.

       ii.            Doctors and Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) could be called from anywhere in the County which led to delays in assessment and treatment.

     iii.            The proposal was to have 5 beds from one site in Maidstone. The site would be purpose built and there would be a dedicated team on site, which was anticipated to result in assessments within 4 hours (the expected standard).

     iv.            Some patients would have an increased journey time but the improved service on offer was felt to outweigh that.

       v.            Following feedback about a patient’s return journey, a private ambulance service had been put in place.

     vi.            Staff engagement had been mostly positive and there had been no concerns raised about travel.

   vii.            The introduction of an 836-advice line for police officers, staffed by KMPT staff, was largely attributed to the reduction in numbers detained under the S136 Act.

2.    A Member questioned whether the reduction in the use S136 was down to the 836 advice line, or the lockdowns used during COVID-19 pandemic when people were not allowed to leave their homes. Ms Bulman explained that numbers had continued to reduce over the last 12 months and that the 836 line had been pivotal in realising that. Mental Health training had been provided for police, and the advice line gave them access to clinical advice 24/7 as well as access to patient records.

3.    The four-hour recommendation for completing Mental Health Act assessments commenced once an individual was accepted into a HBPoS.

4.    Answering whether a single site could be a single point of failure, Ms Bulman said that risk had been recognised but that mitigations had been built into the design of the facility. 

5.    A Member requested that Key Performance Indicators be brought to the Committee once available.

6.    A Member asked what consideration had been given to Thanet residents, some of whom would have longer travel journeys as a result of the changes. Dr. Kasparek’s acknowledged the longer journeys but explained that the service would ultimately be much better with equitable provision for all. Ms. Clack added that there were plans to provide a 24/7 Safe Haven (a community crisis facility) at an East Kent hospital, with procurement underway.

7.    Members wanted to understand more about residents who bordered neighbouring regions, and whether they could be sent to a HPBoS under a different Integrated Care System. Ms Clack replied that it would be unusual for residents to be transferred out of county but greater clarity around this would be provided at the next meeting.

8.    RESOLVED that

                        i.         the committee note the report and

                               ii.            the ICB attend the next meeting to present the Draft Business case before it goes to the Board for approval.