Minutes

Welcome, introductions and apologies - EKPCC 21/21-1

1.1 ND welcomed members to the virtual meeting; apologies for absence were received and noted as above

Minutes of the previous meeting - EKPCC 20/21 - 2

2.1 The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting; 13.2 one amended is to add Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) before Ash Eton as other teams are also based at Ash Eton 

• CW asked why there are no actions under discussion on Autism; ND advised that KMPT employed a specialist on Learning Disability and Autism and the meeting was to introduce George Matuska (GM) to the group; people were encouraged to speak to GM about their experiences 
• EB advised that there is still no facility to communication with CMHT Ash Eton in writing; sometimes she waits a day or week for a call back and it would be good to have a record 
  • JM advised that for general emails people would need to contact staff involved in patient’s care; action JM to liaise with Daniel Lee, Locality Manager about contacting EB
  • AHT added that each CMHT have a duty worker and people can contact them with their queries; if the query is simple i.e. to confirm if email was received they can answer that and for more complex queries they can put a person through a duty manager; the best way to contact manager is through a duty worker or reception 
  • EB suggested that it would be good to have guidance on how to contact manager; AHT will raise it with her locality managers  

Action log and matters arising from the minutes - EKPCC 21/21 - 3

3.1    Outstanding actions from the previous meeting:

• EKPCC 19/20-2 East Kent carer and patient consultative committees agreed to the transition period of 6 months; the merge will be reviewed after 3 meetings (September 2020) – ongoing
• EKPCC 19/20-15 A discharge checklist for a client requested; My safety plan  will be shared with the minutes (May 2020) – ongoing
• EKPCC 19/20-34 To invite Dr Afifa Qazi to this group’s meeting; dates for meetings in 2020 set up; dates will be shared with the Executive Team – (November 2020) - ongoing 

KMPT update on current work - EKPCC 20/21-4

4.1 KMPT update on current work

• People under the care of community teams should continue to contact their local teams for support
• We are continuing to receive referrals and we will assess people’s needs and provide relevant support
• We are using telephone and video facilities to provide assessments and ongoing care when we are not able to see individuals face to face
• Some people are participating in group therapy via video and this has been positively received so far
• Comments:
• NP mentioned that the Recovery College runs virtually and can now take people from across the county and carers are being encouraged to attend these virtual sessions; action NP to share their prospectus with the group 
• CW talked about people who were offered a one-to-one sessions before the pandemic and these appointments were cancelled and not replaced; AHP advised that CMHTs were asked to stop all initial meetings at the beginning of the pandemic, they have processes in place and patients are phoned weekly, they are also extending working hours; staff who are working from home still have their mobiles, they still respond to crisis and wear PPI

4.2 CQC well led inspection 

• We were notified mid-March that our well led inspection would be postposed till after Covid
• CQC are continuing routine Mental Health Act reviews for people in hospital to ensure that Trusts continue to adhere to Code of Practice. These reviews are being done using video calling or via the telephone
• Patients on the wards are able to share their experience of care with the reviewers through this process
• Carers who wish to be involved are encouraged to do so
• Once we know which wards they will be visiting, Carers champions will inform carers of patients on their wards about how they speak to the MHA Reviewer

4.3 Ward visiting

• In order to minimise spread of infection, we are still not allowing visitors on our wards
• We have developed capacity for visitors to make video or telephone calls to patients
• In exceptional cases such as those people on End of life Care, visiting may be considered on a case by case basis and after discussion with the Ward Manager and Consultant

Comments: 

• NP mentioned that tablets are also available for people who are under self-isolation on the ward
• CW asked about what have been done for people out of area; NP advised that they would have the same communication as any other patient on the ward, they want to promote and continue communication with patients 

4.4 Patients swabbing on admission

• All new patients admitted to the ward will be swabbed in order to inform where they should be cared for
• While waiting for the results, they will be barrier nursed until their swab results have been reported on
• We are encouraging all people on our inpatient wards to follow the Government guidance on social distancing, hand hygiene and going out for fresh air as per recommended periods

Comments:

• NP mentioned that OTs providing people with self-isolation bags including puzzles, crosswords, waterproof radios; turn over for swabbing in acute is quick 
• PC asked if people are swabbed before the admission; NP advised that the Trust is swabbing patients before discharge if they are returning to live with a shielding relative, they are swabbing people before going to Rehab or to Care Homes / Nursing Homes; PC suggested to swab all patients before they are discharge home; some people were in favour of swabbing only when patients have symptoms 

4.5 Clinical Care pathway and Quality Account priorities

• We are seeking additional members to help shape the development and implementation of clinical care pathways in the Trust 
• We are keen to have the voices of service users and carers fully represented. 
• If you interested in becoming a member or would like to hear more about this, please contact Amanda Chapman Amanda.chapman9@nhs.net

Comments: 

• ND advised that PC supported many activities under Clinical Care Pathway; PC was involved in 3 work streams; ND asked how regularly PC was engaged, PC not since the outbreak 

4.6 The Quality Account priorities we have chosen are:

• Reducing violence and aggression on our wards
• Using and evidencing Clinical outcomes
• Care planning 
• If you are interested in helping us improve on any of these areas, please contact KL and she will put you touch with the relevant Trust Lead

PCC/CCC update - EKPCC 20/21 - 5

5.1 East Kent Patient Consultative Committee on 12 March

• A carer raised support for veterans; asked what the Trust are doing and highlighted Combat Stress: Mental health support for veterans have no funding, there is no specialist mental health unit for veterans in the community – Trust is reviewing its support for veterans, this is being led by a Senior Psychologist from our specialist service 
• Patient raised an issue about accessibility of some of the Trust’s buildings; members suggested working with people who are experiencing difficulties around accessibility – Issues fed back to site management. Estates team is looking into the issues. Further updates will be provided
• Carer enquired about Female PICU provision, as Trust don’t have facility in Kent currently - there is a commitment to develop a Kent Medway facility in the future. Meanwhile Trust has commissioned a local Private provider to provide care for women and this is already working.

Comments

• JR asked about the cost of these beds provided by Cygnet; action ND to provide response for the next meeting  

Mental health awareness week: Kindness - EKPCC 20/21-8

6.1 ND mentioned Mental Health Awareness Week with the theme of kindness which resonates with the current situation; we have seen many examples of kindness from our communities

Any other business - EKPCC 20/21 - 8

8.1 Reports:

• PC, mentioned that carers were neglected in the past and he enquired why East Kent Patient Consultative Committee is without word carer in its title; ND fed back that a review was being arranged of these consultation mechanisms; PC talked about lack of support from Carers Support organisation; LB added that her experience was similar 
• CW not happy with developments around PICU, and repeated his concerns around the provision of out of area beds and the need to support carers when their loved ones are treated outside of Kent; he was also not confident that communication is happening  to patients in out of area beds and was referring to a particular carer; AHT took that action forward action
• JM, Older Adults are extending their working hours, they are only doing urgent work, and they keep their age group safe, they have done well in containing Covid-19 on their wards, staff were brilliant and some staff were redeployed to different wards; their act of kindness was: Thanet OA raised £2,000 to buy hampers for Care Homes, and Canterbury OA raised £200 for food donations 
• ND asked if people felt this meeting was useful and he advised the next meeting will be held in July on Lifesize; the video conferencing facilities were seen as very useful by the group although one carer said that they did not wish to lose the ability to hold face to face meetings when contact restrictions are lifted

Date of next meeting - EKPCC 20/21 - 9

9.1 Please note that face to face meeting will not be held until the current contact restrictions have been lifted. For more information please contact kmpt.patient.experience@nhs.net