Agenda item

Presentation by Associate Director of Quality Governance, Compliance and Data Quality, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust

The Associate Director of Quality Governance, Compliance and Quality Data, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust submitted a report (previously circulated) outlining progress on the Trust’s Quality Account Quality Priorities for 2024/25, including key updates on delivery of the established measures. A presentation (also previously circulated) accompanied the report.

It was reported that in April 2024, the Trust’s Quality Assurance Committee endorsed a new approach to development of the Quality Priorities whereby the priorities were co-created and led by people with lived experience; and that this approach enabled the voice of service users, relatives and carers to be at the heart of quality improvement across the organisation.

The three key priorities for 2024/25, Promoting education using lived experience, Relapse prevention and Improving personalisation in urgent care were outlined; Members were informed of the measures developed to deliver the priorities; and welcomed key updates for the priorities.

The Director of Public Health reminded Members that self-harm and suicide was a health and wellbeing key priority, highlighting that Darlington had the highest suicide rate in England. National data available indicated that 27 per cent of people who lost their lives to suicide were known to mental health services, and it was important to understand the local picture. 

Discussion ensued regarding relapse prevention and support for those on the waiting list for services. Members were assured that the Trust had seen an improvement in wait times; that all patients received an initial assessment, ongoing assessments of their risks and a keeping in touch service was in place; and that work was continuing to reduce waiting lists. Following a request, it was agreed that training provided by the Lived Experience Directors and Involvement Team as a percentage of all staff could be provided.

Following a question in relation to quality priority 2 and service users with limited support, Members were informed that the Trust had a multidisciplinary approach, working closely with a range of other agencies; that families of patients have had direct input into policies developed by the Trust; and that for those patients without family, with a patients consent, the Trust would engage with friends. Members noted in addition, an advocacy service was available to patients.

RESOLVED – That the Trust’s progress with the Quality Priorities measures for 2024/25 be noted.