Agenda item

To inform the Committee of the Building the Right Support and Transforming Care Plans, and the effect of these locally.

 Resolved                              -  That the report be noted.

A report was submitted to Committee to inform Members of the ‘Building the Right Support and Transforming Care Plans, and the local effects of these’.  The Chief Executive of Calderstones NHS Trust was present at the meeting to provide further information to that contained in the report.

The Chief Executive of Calderstones NHS, Mark Hindle, informed the Committee that three key policy documents were driving change:

·        Care and Forensic Security

·        Building Life Support

·        Homes not Hospitals

He referred to the documents supporting reasons for change and explained that the Chief Executive of NHS England had considered that there was no longer a need for inpatient care and that hospitals such as Calderstones were no longer required.  Members of the Committee were informed that it had been considered that people would receive better care in homes with families with external support packages.  He reported that closure would take place over a period of time to 2018 with half of the patients being discharged gradually into the community.  He gave details of the 3 levels of secure services provided and that the aim of the review was to improve patient diagnosis, treatment and reduce the number of long term bed need in units.  He reported on the funding that would be required to support the new clinical model.

In respect of closing Calderstones the Chief Executive of Calderstones reported that this would mean a major change for staff and potential redundancies but reported that they had worked with staff and the Union to meet the challenges of transferring services.  He pointed out that staff would be given the opportunity to transfer to Mersey Care or obtain employment in community roles. 

Member asked why some service users were being moved to private homes not inspected by the Care Quality Commission which was directly against the Stephen Bubb report and out of 80 service users discharged, how many were being discharged to the private sector?

The Chief Executive reported that there were currently not enough community specific teams and that people were discharged to the most suitable places.  He pointed out that consideration was given to the quality of places and that the private sector would be given the opportunity to provide this care. 

Councillor Gareth Molineux requested further information on the profits or funding used by the private and third sector organisations. 

The Chief Executive reported that there was a 60% to 40% split with 40% reinvestment but pointed out that some of the best quality providers were in the private sector. 

The Chair asked for further information on:

·        How many of the 80 service users that had been discharged  during the last 18 months had been discharged successfully.

·        If there was sufficient community care in Lancashire for a 24 hour service.

·        When a consultation would take place.

·        Why medium and secure services weren’t being used.

·        If a site had been identified for a suitable unit to be built on.

·        Where low, medium and secure service provision would be located.

The Chief Executive explained that only one of the 80 service users had been returned back to the unit.  He pointed out that although there were not enough community specific teams at the moment, the Commissioner was working hard to recycle the use of existing money with some slight additional funding to provide a good service.  The consultation would take place during late Summer/early Autumn and that medium secure services would probably be located at Meghull and low secure service within East Lancashire although nothing had yet been confirmed. 

Kelly Watson, Principal Policy Officer asked for further information on the consultations being held and for an approximation of how many of the workforce resided in Hyndburn, that would likely to be affected. 

The Chief Executive reported that there were between 50 & 100 members of staff who lived in Hyndburn and that there was no desire to make anyone redundant and it was their intention to offer alternative work wherever possible.  He pointed out that some people had requested redundancy and discussions were taking place with the Unions.

Councillor Molineux referred to the proposed model and the reliance on outside agencies and funding, particularly as European funding may be lost due to Brexit.  He asked what guarantees were in place to protect quality of service for patients and

adequate funding.

The Chief Executive reported that people would be discharged to the community with significant funding and that there were good places for people to live and that it would be their strategy to ensure that people were discharged to good places.  

Councillor Nedwell asked if patients may have to relocate further away from Lancashire if the necessary places were not available.

The Chief Executive indicated that this would be the case.

The Chair referred to the current provision of the purpose built unit at Calderstones for secure patients and asked why a newly built unit had been proposed. 

The Chief Executive pointed out that the current state-of-art unit was only 2 years old and had cost £10 m to build and indicated his preference for keeping it open.   He indicated that if they could repurpose Mapelwood they would be able to save £25 m but that the decision was being taken by NHS Trust of England.  He indicated that there could be legal challenges to their decisions.  He also pointed out that over 100 people were being sent out of Lancashire when there were not enough beds and that the provision of beds could be found in Lancashire at a lower cost. 

Resolved                            (1)  That a report be submitted to Full Council recommending that the Council support the retaining of facilities at Calderstones for medium and low security patients;

                                            (2)  That there be greater public consultation to provide for greater informed decision making; and 

                                (3)  That the Council writes to the Chief Executive of NHS England to outline the Council’s concerns over the closure of the in-patient facilities at Calderstones NHS Trust and to urge reconsideration of using the purpose built facilities for future medium and low secure patients.