Agenda item

Report of Head of Planning and Business Development

The Head of Planning and Business Development submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide Members with an update against each of the five key quality improvement priorities for 2019/20, including performance against the agreed quality metrics up to 30 September 2019.

Members were advised that the five quality improvement priorities for 2019/20 were supported by 56 actions, 49 of which (88 per cent) were either completed or on track; the seven actions that were behind schedule and were due to be completed by Christmas had been delayed further, however the Durham and Darlington Crisis team hub was now live.

It was also reported that four of the ten quality metrics were reporting Green and six were reporting Red; three of the Red metrics had shown significant improvement from quarter 1 to quarter 2, whilst the other three metrics remained static.

The submitted report provided information in relation to those six red quality metrics which were Metric 1 – Percentage of patients who report ‘yes, always’ to the question ‘Do you feel safe on the ward?’; Metric 3 – Number of incidents of physical intervention/restraint per 1000 occupied bed days; Metric 6b - Average length of stay for patients in Mental Health Services for Older People Assessment and Treatment wards; Metric 7 – Percentage of patients who reported their overall experience as excellent or good; Metric 8 – Percentage of patients that report that staff treated them with dignity and respect; and Metric 9 – Percentage of patients that would recommend our service to friends and family if they needed similar care or treatment.

In relation to Metric 1 it was reported that whilst still below the Trust target of 88 per cent, this metric had seen a significant improvement from 65.59 per cent in Q1 to 79.17 per cent in Q2.

In relation to Metric 3 it was reported that the Trusts position had also seen a significant improvement, from 38.18 per cent in Q1 to 31.03 per cent in Q2, and that all three geographic localities had seen significant reductions, however this was still above target.

With regard to Metric 6b it was reported that the target was not being met, however Q2 had seen an improvement in length of stay which was 5 days better than in Q1.

In relation to the patient experience Metrics 7, 8 and 9, these had remained static with small quarter to quarter fluctuations however developments within TEWV’s business plan would hopefully lead to sustained improvements for these metrics.

Discussion ensued on the priorities for next year’s Quality Account, with particular reference made to the priority ‘Improving Child to Adult service transitions’. Members were advised of a review of serious incidents in relation to transitions was underway, incorporating historic data from 2016; and were assured that all transition actions were reporting green.

In relation to the priority ‘Reducing preventable deaths it was reported that regionally there had been an increase in suicides and work was being undertaken to prevent this, including early intervention and support; and a review of urgent care, involving multi-agencies, was ongoing.

Members raised concern in respect of cuts to counselling services and were advised that the Urgent Care work stream would be looking at the introduction of the safe haven model; a national trailblazer programme to provide mental health support in schools and colleges had been launched and a bid for Darlington would be submitted in the next round; and Members requested details of the waiting times for Talking Changes.

Following a question, discussion ensued in respect of the safeguards in place for those staffing the Crisis Hub; Members were assured that staff had received specialist clinical training; that onsite support would be provided by Registered Nurses and senior clinical staff; and an update in respect of dual diagnosis would be provided at the Stakeholder Event.

Following a question, Members were notified of the Darlington Living Well Directory, a service that provides information and signposting to a wide range of services, activities and organisations in Darlington.

Members noted that the Trust’s Draft Quality Accounts would be presented to TEWV’s Quality Account Stakeholder event at Scotch Corner on 4 February 2020.

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be noted.

(b) – That the Head of Quality Governance and Compliance and Planning and Business Development Manager be thanked for their informative update.

(c) That the Members be provided with:

(i)            Talking Changes wait times; and

(ii)          Details of the Living Well Directory