Agenda and minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20 April 2023 as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Resolved:-

1.    That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2023, be approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive questions relating to items of business on the agenda from members of the public or press who are present at the meeting.

The Chair confirmed that no questions had been submitted.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

The Chair advised that there was no reason to exclude members of the press or public from observing the discussion of any items on the agenda.

To consider the appointment of David Gill of Rotherham Speak Up for Autism as a co-opted member.

Resolved:-

1.    That Mr. David Gill of Rotherham Speakup Self Advocacy be appointed as a co-opted member of Health Select Commission.

To receive nominations for representative to the Health Welfare and Safety Panel.

Resolved:-

1.    That Councillor Emma Hoddinott be appointed to serve on the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel as a representative of the Health Select Commission for the 2023/24 municipal year.

To consider an update on mental health service delivery by Rotherham, Doncaster, and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) and Rotherham MBC.

Further to a previous report considered by the Commission in January 2023 (minute 53 refers), Members received a presentation from the Rotherham Care Group Director of Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) in respect of waiting times and approaches to reducing delays in the delivery of mental health services and improving patient outcomes.

With regard to the current backlog, it was reported that the service continued to receive between 30 to 40 referrals a week, and whilst on average 20 of those referrals have a waiting time of less than a week to be triaged, the average waiting time for an assessment had increased to 20 weeks from 15 weeks in June 2022. It was further reported that an enhanced recovery plan had been initiated in May 2022 with increased management and clinical input. Members noted the hard work that had been put in by staff to decrease the number of patients waiting for assessment from 800 in June 2022 to 549 in May 2023, which had been achieved despite significant staffing challenges. In outlining the resourcing and recruitment challenges faced, it was explained that only 1.6 whole time equivalent (wte) practitioners were currently working out of 6 wte posts on the established structure for the team due to sickness absence and unfilled vacancies. It was noted that a Trust-wide overtime programme was in progress to support the recovery plan.

It was reported that positive progress had been made in relation to the Memory Service backlog, which had previously had a waiting list of 568 patients for an average of 29 weeks until assessment in June 2022, which had reduced to 390 patients with an average wait of 11 weeks until assessment in May 2023. This had been achieved despite a continued high level of referrals and the hard work and commitment of staff involved was commended. The Memory Service Locally Enhanced Service commenced in September 2022 with local GPs and had led to a reduction in the annual review waiting list of approximately 80%. It was noted that significant work had taken place to improve recruitment for the Memory Service and that the Integrated Care Board had contributed funds to support this and it was anticipated that the additional benefit of new staff recruitment would be realised by the end of the summer and early autumn of 2023.

Members noted that there were two main transformation programmes in operation within the Trust presently. Whilst the Crisis transformation programme was largely an internal project, it had linked to national NHS programmes which would ensure a direct link to local Crisis Services via NHS 111 and that was planned to be implemented later in the year, with direct access from 999 calls being planned for implementation in 2024. In addition, the internal plans had led to or would lead to the following changes:-

·     Moving all crisis calls out of hours from the Care Coordination Centre to Doncaster Single Point of Access on 1 June 2023

·     Yorkshire Ambulance Service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To consider the draft work programme for scrutiny for the 2023-2024 municipal year.

Consideration was given to the latest iteration of the Commission’s work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year. In doing so, the Chair encouraged Members to get involved in reviewing quality accounts for NHS organisations in the local health economy, as well as other bespoke workshops.

In considering the work programme, Members were mindful not to overload future agendas and were aware of the limited time available to consider matters before the pre-election period commences in March 2024. It was suggested that some items on the work programme may be better dealt with through separate workshop discussions rather than through formal committee agenda items.

Resolved:-

1.    That the updated schedule of work be noted.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Governance Advisor to make changes to the work programme as appropriate, in consultation with the Chair/Vice-chair, and with any changes reported to the next meeting.

To consider any item(s) which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair advised there were no urgent items requiring a decision at the meeting.

The next meeting of the Health Select Commission will be held on 27 July 2023, commencing at 5.00 pm in Rotherham Town Hall. 

Resolved:- The next meeting of Health Select Commission will be held on 27 July 2023, commencing at 5.00 pm in Rotherham Town Hall.