Agenda item

To provide an update from NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) on Dentistry, General Practice and Child and Adolescent Mental Health services in the Bracknell Forest Place.

Presentations will be provided by the following representatives from NHS Frimley ICB and Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust:

Tracey Faraday-Drake, Director for Children, Mental Health, and Learning Disabilities, NHS Frimley IDB

Alison Woodiwiss, Head of Transformation, Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, NHS Frimley ICB

Karen Cridland, Director for Children, Family and All Age Services, Berkshire Health Foundation Trust

David Mphanza, Head of Primary Care, East Berkshire, NHS Frimley ICB

Dr Annabel Buxton, Clinical Lead (Bracknell Forest) NHS Frimley ICB

Tim Langran, Head of Medicines Optimisation and Acting Director of Pharmacy, Optometry & Dentistry

The Commission welcomed representatives from NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) who provided updates on strategic health issues across the borough, including dentistry; GP surgeries; and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

David Mphanza, Head of Primary Care for East Berkshire, introduced himself and Dr Annabel Buxton, a GP at the Waterfield Practice, Tracey Faraday-Drake, Director for Children and Young People, Learning Disabilities and Mental Health for NHS Frimley ICB, Alison Woodiwiss, Head of Transformation for NHS Frimley ICB, Louise Noble, Service Director for CAMHS, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (BHFT) and Tim Langran, Interim Director for Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry for NHS Frimley ICB .

Primary Care Services Update

Dr Buxton and David Mphanza presented on the national picture and landscape of general practice services and access, as well as the changes that had occurred over the last few years locally. They discussed the modern general practice model, proactive care, and the transformation of access to general practice including digital front doors. The presentation highlighted the increased demand for GP services and the challenges faced in meeting this demand. They outlined the steps being taken to improve access, such as the implementation of online consultations, extended hours, and the recruitment of additional healthcare professionals. The importance of integrating primary and secondary care to provide a seamless patient experience was highlighted. Another challenge was the limitation of some GP estates, which may lead to closures in the future of those buildings.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Update

Tracey Faraday-Drake and Alison Woodiwiss then provided an update on CAMHS, the transformation of mental health services for children and young people, and the initiatives in place to improve access and support. It was noted a five-year strategy had been put in place to deliver on the local plan for children and young people with learning disabilities and mental health issues. They discussed the challenges faced currently, such as long waiting times and the increasing prevalence of mental health issues among young people. The strategies implemented to address these challenges included the introduction of early intervention programmes, the expansion of community-based services, and the use of digital tools to provide remote support. They also presented performance data showing improvements in service delivery and patient outcomes. It was stressed the system adhered to the ‘no wrong door’ approach, meaning young people could be referred by anyone, including themselves. An Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) had been piloted in other parts of the NHS Frimley ICB footprint and there was an intention to roll it out in Bracknell in the future. The crisis response piece of work had been completed and was the service was now available 24/7.

Dentistry Update

Tim Langran discussed the public concern around access to dentistry and the initiatives in place to improve access, including the additional hours scheme and the upcoming procurement of additional units of dental activity. He explained the factors contributing to the current shortage of dental services, such as funding constraints and workforce shortages. The initiatives aimed at addressing these issues included increasing the number of dental training places, providing financial incentives for dentists to work in underserved areas, and investing in community dental services. The discussion also covered the importance of preventative care and public health campaigns to reduce the incidence of dental problems. It was thought there was a reasonable geographical spread of Dentists across Bracknell currently. There was an opportunity to work with Public Health colleagues around prevention.

Question and responses

A number of questions were raised, including the impact of social media on children's mental health. The representatives acknowledged the significant role social media plays in shaping young people's mental health and discussed ongoing efforts to educate both children and parents about healthy online behaviours. An emerging issue, that required further investigation, was that young people were identifying loneliness as a factor and surveys highlighted young people spent less time together than before the Covid-19 pandemic. Another point of discussion was the support available for pharmacies, particularly in light of the increasing demand for their services during the pandemic. The representatives outlined the measures being taken to support pharmacies, such as additional funding and training opportunities.

The following recommendations were agreed:

Resolutions

1. That Cabinet work with NHS Frimley ICB & BHFT colleagues to explore why children and young people were identifying loneliness as a factor for poor mental health, and ways to address issues at source.

2. That Cabinet look at more opportunities for children and young people to socialise in their local communities by visiting different localities in the borough.

3. That Cabinet reviewed its health-related data, and that of other health providers, to ensure the data collected was managed effectively to deliver positive outcomes.

4. That NHS Frimley ICB confirmed all GP practices implemented uniform data logs across all GP practices for pharmacy referrals and provided referral rates to O&S Commission members.

5. That Cabinet worked with NHS Frimley ICB colleagues to confirm there were sufficient channels for patients to feedback on the quality of GP practices to aid improvement.