Agenda item

Natalie Arthur, Islington CCG was present and was accompanied by   Judy Leibowitz and James Gray, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, who gave evidence to the Committee.

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

·         It was noted that Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust delivered services on behalf of the Council and the service is known locally as iCOPE which is a stepped care model

·         The number of referrals were stable and expected to reach 9292 by the end of 2016/17

·         The target figure for access to treatment of 15% should be met

·         Waiting times for treatment were slightly below target and there has been a challenge in reporting of data and that the NHS England figures did not reflect the correct situation

·         In relation to accessibility of services and ethnicity many requesting access to services did not state their ethnicity however ethnicity is known for those actually using the service and this is in line with population and census data proportionally

·         It was stated that the one of the challenges to the IAPT service is to increase access to treatment to 19% in 2017/18 and 19% in 2018/19 and this will pose a significant challenge within current resources and commissioners will be working with the service provider to identify how to address this. In L.B.Islington there are a number of people with a high level of complex needs and an IAPT plus service is being looked at to address this

·         The IAPT service is well integrated with primary care and this helps to increase access to the service

·         Reference was made to the link between physical conditions and mental health

·         A Member referred to the difficulty of some BME communities in filling in forms and that alternative methods of advertising and accessing the service should be looked at. It was stated that the most underrepresented group accessing service is in fact the white/other group

·         In response to a question it was stated that it was recognised that there were some gaps in certain BME groups accessing the service and the Manor Gardens centre were employed to try to reach those communities currently not accessing the service

·         A Member enquired whether the proposal to use skype and other such methods to increase access would work as well as face to face contact. It was stated that some people could not always attend appointments during the day and it would be more convenient to use e mail and skype etc. However it was also recognised that if people need face to face contact this would be provided

·         Reference was made to unemployment and that this had an effect on mental health and that there is also a stigma around mental health that stopped people accessing services. It was stated the IAPT service worked closely with employment support services and work is taking place with JCP

·         It was stated that there were national campaigns around removing the stigma of mental health and iCOPE were delivering training for parents in schools to raise awareness of mental health

·         In response to a question it was stated that it is expected that 31000 residents would be suffering from mental health problems at any on time and 15% of these would be accessing services

·         It was stated that the average number of session of treatment for patients is 6/9 sessions

·         The benefit cap had had an effect on the mental wellbeing of people affected and this was proving difficult

·         Elderly people were under represented accessing services but when they were referred there was a good recovery rate

The Chair thanked Judy Leibowitz, James Gray and Natalie Arthur for attending and their presentation