Agenda item

The report included information on the NHS health check day being organised by NHS Brent and involve Brent MENCAP and details of how Brent MENCAP has been able to build on the initial project to train NHS staff members on working with people with learning disabilities.

Ann O’Neil (Brent MENCAP) introduced the report updating Members on the work of Brent MENCAP to help people with learning disabilities in using health services.  Ann O’Neil informed the committee that the NHS health check day had been well attended by a wide mix of professionals, carers and people with disabilities and feedback had been used to inform the Brent NHS Self Assessment Framework (SAF).  It had been identified that there had been issues in providing exact figures and this needed to be addressed in order to deliver the necessary services and appropriate safeguarding measures.  Ann O’Neil advised that it was hoped that funding for the Health Action Group would continue beyond March 2013.  The committee noted that a learning disability nurse had been in post for around a year and there were plans to appoint an acute liaison nurse, although more hospitals would need to be covered. Funding for a focus group for carers and people with learning disabilities had recently been secured and it was anticipated that it would meet on a monthly basis, whilst a patient focus group for people with learning disabilities had met twice at Central Middlesex Hospital to look at issues in all hospitals in Brent. 

Ann O’Neil advised that Brent MENCAP had provided a comprehensive response to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) consultation, and whilst funding for training GPs and other health care staff in respect of people with learning disabilities had ceased, it was hoped it would re-commence once a business case had been developed. The Royal College for General Practitioners had developed an online training course and also hoped to provide training sessions.  Members heard that mystery shopper exercise at GP practices and Central Middlesex Hospital had found that whilst staff were helpful, there was very little information or help with regard to signage.

During discussion, Councillor Hunter enquired what steps were being taken to improve the amount of accurate data available.  With regard to signage, she felt there was much room for improvement and stated that this not only helped people with learning disabilities, but also those where English was not their first language and she enquired what action was being taken to address this.  Councillor Hunter also welcomed the pilot health passports scheme and she hoped that it would provide stimulus to make the scheme more widespread.  Councillor Leaman welcomed the report and suggested that in order to gain more real data, the Health and Wellbeing Board should consult with the voluntary sector and he enquired if there was any mechanism which provided voluntary sector organisations such as Brent MENCAP to provide feedback to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Chair enquired what the main issues raised by Brent MENCAP with regard to the JSNA consultation and she requested a copy of the document that was submitted.  She stated that members had concerns about health services provided for those with learning disabilities mainly due to lack of information and knowledge given to them. 

In reply to the issues raised, Ann O’Neil advised that there was an increasing number of patients who were borderline in terms of learning disabilities and this situation needed to be monitored carefully and responded to appropriately.  However, the largest concern was with regard to funding and the committee noted that Brent MENCAP was staffed by professionals and not volunteers and this should be taken into due account.  With regard to improving accuracy of data, Ann O’Neil explained that it was intended that the learning disability nurse would visit GP practices to compile patient information.  GPs were also being trained to ask the appropriate questions to patients with learning disabilities and it was estimated that there were around 9,000 people with learning disabilities living in Brent.  Ann O’Neil advised that there were also a number of other people with learning disabilities coming to the borough to access health services and this raised issues in respect of safeguarding.  It was imperative that adult social care services and Brent NHS continued to work more closely with each other to address these issues.  Ann O’Neil added that clear signage helped a wider audience other than just those with learning disabilities and this was being impressed upon hospitals and GP practices and she added that this issue should also be addressed in implementation of equality action plans.  Ann O’Neil added that the introduction of a local Healthwatch in 2013 could improve the effectiveness of patient representation. 

Claudia Feldner (Brent MENCAP) added that only a relatively small number of health passports had been issued as part of the pilot scheme due to limited funds and this remained an issue that needed further consideration.

Councillor Hirani (Lead Member for Adults and Health) advised that the Health and Wellbeing Board had mainstreamed mental health as a key priority and there would be a separate strand of work on this issue.  He acknowledged issues with regard to funding and added that finding different ways of working were part of the solution to this issue.

The Chair welcomed an update at a future meeting with regard to the work of Brent MENCAP and health services for people with learning disabilities.