Agenda item

The Committee received a joint presentation from Leicestershire County Council (LCC) and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) regarding the Transforming Care Programme which aimed to support people with Learning Disabilities and Autism through the healthcare system. A copy of the presentation slides, marked ‘Agenda Item 8’, is filed with these minutes.

The Committee welcomed to the meeting for this item Peter Davis, Assistant Director, Adults and Communities Department, LCC and David Williams, Director of Strategy and Business Development, LPT.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

(i)          The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LEDER) pilot took place in Leicestershire and the key themes which were identified in Leicestershire were very similar to those which arose nationally. Links to the national and Leicestershire LEDER documents would be circulated to members after the meeting so they could look at this in more detail. The issue of people with learning disabilities being disadvantaged whilst receiving healthcare was one which had only begun to be explored recently therefore little data was available regarding trends over time. In response to a request from a member for the figures on life expectancy for people with Learning Disabilities and Autism it was agreed that the link to the LEDER Annual report would also be circulated to Members after the meeting.

(ii)         A member raised concerns regarding the lack of progress regarding patients with learning disabilities given that the abuse taking place at the Winterbourne View care home in Bristol had been exposed in 2011 and David Cameron had highlighted the issues whilst he was Prime Minister. In response it was acknowledged that not enough progress had been made which was why the issue needed greater publicity and more people talking about it.

(iii)       There was a variance across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) with regards to the amount of people that received annual health checks and the aim was that the national indicator of 67% would be achieved across the whole of LLR, though ideally a figure higher than 67% would be reached. Currently for LLR the figure was 19% (year to date) and improvement was required across the whole of LLR not just in particular geographical areas. The Covid-19 pandemic had not greatly affected the figures for health checks carried out therefore there was scope for improving the figures regardless of Covid-19. When trying to understand why some patients were not having health checks it should be noted that every service was busy but also patient choice was a factor and it was important to emphasise to patients the importance of having an Annual Health check. A project was being undertaken which focused on people that had not had their annual health check for over 2 years and explored the reasons why.

(iv)       The system was working in a more integrated way and partnership working took place to ensure best practice was incorporated across LLR. Governance arrangements such as the Learning Disability Board and the Autism Board were in place to provide oversight. Senior managers from all three local authorities worked together and case managers would review cases to see if any learning could be gained.

(v)        Concerns were raised that there had been a lack of support for carers during the Covid-19 pandemic and that support groups were no longer meeting. This was of particular concern in Rutland. In response it was explained that Leicestershire County Council had been leading on work to support carers and conversations would now take place with Rutland County Council colleagues to ensure support was provided in that locality. The Autism Board was launching a website which would provide information, and the timing of Board meetings was being changed to enable carers to take part.

(vi)       Reassurance was given that decisions made were always in the service users’ best interest. Patients would not be placed in the community unless the appropriate care packages were in place.

(vii)      LPT recognised that there were challenges in identifying Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) patients with Learning Disabilities and Autism and providing them with the necessary support and further work was required to be carried out in this regard.

(viii)    Work was taking place in Kegworth to make the community more autism friendly and it was hoped to expand this to the rest of LLR.

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the Transforming Care Programme and work aimed at getting better outcomes for people with Learning Disabilities and Autism through the healthcare system be supported;

(b)        That officers be requested to provide a progress report on Transforming Care – Learning Disabilities and Autism for a future meeting of the Committee.