Issue - items at meetings - Brighton & Hove City Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) 2009-2010 Annual Operating Plan

Report of the Acting Director of Strategy and Governance (copy attached).

8.1       This Item was introduced by Simon Scott, Strategic Commissioner for Mental Health for NHS Brighton & Hove and Brighton & Hove City Council.

8.2       Mr Scott told members that Brighton & Hove had high levels of suicide, drugs and alcohol related deaths, severe anxiety and depression, and people drinking at dangerous levels. Local spending on these areas is considerably higher than national averages, but more can be done to further improve city services: hence the need to revise the Working Age Mental Health Commissioning Strategy.

8.3       RESOLVED – that the committee approves the proposed process for the development of the Working Age Mental Health Commissioning Strategy.

Report of the Director of Strategy and Governance (copy attached).

78.1    This Item was introduced by Claire Quigley, Director of Delivery, NHS Brighton & Hove.

78.2    In answer to questions relating to health inequalities, members were told that addressing inequalities was a priority for NHS Brighton & Hove.

78.3    Members were told that funding for capital improvements was not included in the Annual Operating Plan as this was generally a matter for NHS provider trusts. NHS Brighton & Hove is directly responsible for  relatively little estates and only funds some expansion of primary care practices.

78.4    In response to queries regarding midwifery services, the committee was told that services were being developed via an ongoing consultative process. This is expected to include the development of a local birthing centre and steps (still being finalised) to improve continuity of care. The cost of these changes will largely  be met from within the tariff payments for these services (i.e. as a re-allocation of current funding rather than as additional funding).

78.5    RESOLVED – That officers supporting the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee provide members with a digest of the NHS Brighton & Hove 2009-10 Annual Operating Plan, and that this digest be used to inform the committee’s future work programme.