Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report which presents the STP Mental Health Delivery Plan to provide context for the development of the work programme of the health and Wellbeing Board.  The report contains information on priority actions to deliver the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health across the B&NES/Swindon/Wiltshire area and, also, actions for each constituent part of the STP, including B&NES.  It has been informed by the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, a gap analysis against the Five Year Forward View and by previously identified local priorities, including those in local Mental Health Strategies and Plans.

11:10am – 25 mins – Jane Shayler

The Board considered a report which presented the STP Mental Health Delivery Plan.  The Plan contained further information on priority actions to deliver the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health across the B&NES/Swindon/Wiltshire area and also set out actions for each constituent part of the STP.  The Plan has been informed by the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, a gap analysis against the Five Year Forward View and by previously identified local priorities, including those in local Mental Health Strategies and Plans.

Mental Health at STP level is implicit and it is important to provide a priority focus in its own right.  There has been a powerful partnership approach in preparing the Plan.  It was noted that mental health impacts across all service areas and can affect inequalities, life expectancy and other health related issues.  Early intervention before a crisis occurs is key along with early help for children and young people.

The evidence showed that if more were invested in mental health services then large savings would be made.  This would reduce hospitalisation and improve both physical and mental health.  The challenge is to identify where the greatest value can be added and the Plan is intended to provide clear evidence based priorities.

A workshop was held in August which had highlighted the following priority/high impact areas:

·  Urgent and emergency care

·  Improving transitions

·  In-patient access

·  Workforce development

The following issues were then discussed:

·  Councillor Paul May stressed the importance of employers taking action to improve the health of their employees.  Hayley Richards explained that the STP is aware of this issue and that Forums are in place for this area of work.  There are also links with the education sector.

·  Bruce Laurence explained that some work is already taking place with employers around mental health issues.  He noted that mental health is about the way society operates and stated that the Health and Wellbeing Board could take a wider view of this area to improve the resilience of the local population.

·  Mike Bowden acknowledged the amount of work that has gone into the production of this Plan.

·  Alex Francis pointed out that there is lots of energy and enthusiasm in the voluntary sector for this particular area of work.

RESOLVED: To note the priority actions set out in the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) Mental Health Delivery Plan.