Agenda and minutes

To be notified of the appointment of Substitute Members.

There were no substitutions.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation in relation to any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

Please complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

Councillor Shaw declared a registerable personal interest as Governor of CNTW Trust.

Councillor Kirwin declared a personal interest in Item 6 as he is employed by a cancer charity.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2024

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

Presentation from Jeremy Rushmer, Medical Director at Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Jeremy Rushmer, Executive Medical Director attended the meeting and presented the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Annual Plan and Quality Account.

The Quality Account 2023/24:

·           Will look back at safety, quality and improvement priorities for 2023/24    

·           and focus for 2024/25

·           Is a standard requirements for all trusts to report

·           Is written in line with annual reporting guidance

·           Provide key measures and phrases used that are auditable

·           Includes information on mortality and preventable deaths, areas of  achievement

·           Follows guidance issued in January 2021, which stated that foundation trusts do not need to instruct external audit firms to conduct assurance work on the Quality Account, no indicators would be tested again this year

·           As a result the council of governors will therefore not be required to select an additional indicator to be audited

The Committee were reminded of the safety, quality and improvement priorities for 2023/24:

1.       Improving flow: reducing ambulance handover delays

2.     Reduce medication errors – timeliness of crucial medications

3.     Improving cancer pathway standards

4.     Deteriorating patients – community news

5.     Improving delirium – assessment and management

6.     Patient experience

7.     Staff experience

and were provided with an update of performance against priorities for quarter 3.

Jeremey advised that every year the Trust, in collaboration with business units, governors and other stakeholders identify a number of safety, quality and improvement priorities.

For 2024/25 seven possible quality improvements have been identified, some of these priorities build on previous improvement work and others are new priorities aligned to the wider Patient Safety Strategy.  It was noted that business units will be working on many other safety and quality initiatives which form part of their annual plans.

Queries were raised by members of the sub-committee in relation to the priorities and clarification was provided in relation to ambulance delays, the need for services and the roles of NHS staff.

The Chair thanked Jeremy for the presentation and acknowledged the range of health services available and welcomed the enthusiasm for change.  It was suggested that there could be more communication around how the NHS is changing and why these changes are necessary.

To receive a report that will provide a comprehensive overview on the strategic approach to suicide prevention in North Tyneside.  

The Sub-Committee received a report and presentation from Rachel Nicholson, Head of Public Health Strategy and Policy that provided a comprehensive overview on the strategic approach to suicide prevention in North Tyneside in the light of new Government Strategy published in September 2023 and in response to the outcome of the Council Motion on Suicide Prevention, debated on 19 January 2024.

The report provided detail in relation to:

·       National, regional and local strategic context for suicide prevention

·       Key data, trends and risk factors relating to suicide in North Tyneside

·       A summary of key services and activities focussed on suicide prevention

·       North Tyneside’s refreshed suicide prevention action plan for 2023-2025

It was highlighted that since July 2018, the “civil standard” has instead been applied, changing the requirement of evidence to show a death was caused by suicide “beyond all reasonable doubt” to on the “balance of probability”.

The North East has the highest rate of suicide in England (13.5 per 100,000); however, the latest data shows that North Tyneside’s suicide rate is similar to the rate for England (11.4 per 100,000 population).  This rate equates to approximately 20 individuals each year in North Tyneside dying by suicide.  

It was reported that suicide is a major inequality issue. Evidence demonstrates that there is a significant association between socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour.  National research from Samaritans and academic partners highlights how men living in the most deprived areas of England from lower social classes are up to ten times more at risk of suicide than those in the highest social class, living in the most affluent areas.

Effective suicide prevention requires a partnership approach with health, social care, voluntary sector, education, communities, business, and wider partners working in a coordinated way to reduce risk and to support our residents.

It was noted that many of the services that build individual and community resilience are provided by our local voluntary sector.  Working with organisations such as If U Care Share, Whitley Bay Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS), North Tyneside and Northumberland MIND and local Mental Health Alliance enables statutory partners to reach into local communities and connect and support vulnerable residents who might not engage with services.

Organisations such as Samaritans, Papyrus and the Campaign against living miserably (CALM) are regularly promoted to raise awareness that people should not feel alone and support is available.

A refreshed Suicide Prevention Action Plan for 2023/25 was developed using local intelligence and the recommendations from the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023-2028. This  work ensures that there is a comprehensive understanding of suicide at a local level and enables an intelligence-driven approach to suicide prevention.  The local action plan brings together activities and programmes of work to tackle suicide rates in groups of concern and to address suicide risk factors in North Tyneside.

Matthew Smith, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of If U Care Share attended the meeting and also provided a powerful presentation.  The Charity was established following the loss of a family  ...  view the full minutes text for item C35/23

An update will be provided on the current position in relation to Homecare in North Tyneside

The Committee received an update regarding the current position relating to homecare in North Tyneside.

The steady increase in homecare over the last year was noted.  It was also highlighted that whilst four CQC registered locations are currently rated as requiring improvement this is a reduction from six when compared with July.  No locations are inadequate and five locations are outstanding.

The Committee welcomed the improvements which have been made in relation to homecare and its provision within North Tyneside and thanked staff and officers involved.

RESOLVED: That the update be noted.