Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – People, which provided an update on two developments within local mental health services – the current impact of the take-over by Merseycare NHS Mental Health Trust of the former North West Boroughs (NWB) Mental Health Trust; and the implementation of the national Mental Health Breathing Space Scheme.

It was reported that so far the take-over by Merseycare NHS Mental Health Trust of the former NWB had made very little impact locally on front line service delivery.  A local multi-agency health partnership board was being re-established imminently, which would include Merseycare, and would make the transmission of information and service developments easier to maintain through consistent conversation.

Members were advised that the Mental Health Breathing Space (MHBS) scheme was introduced by central Government and implemented in May 2021.  It aimed to provide people who were in debt and who qualified for the scheme, with a period of respite during which they could not be pursued by their creditors until their debts had been addressed by a specialist debt adviser.  The elements and reasons for the scheme being set up were outlined in the report.

In response to members’ questions it was noted that the measure of service delivery impact came from people on the ground, so feedback from front line teams.  The Board recognised that financial problems did affect some people’s mental health and they required specialist support to get them through this.  The numbers of referrals made to date would be provided at a future meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED:  That the Board notes the contents of the report and comments made.