"It was something I had really pushed for" - Salford Councillor welcomes new mental heath report

“It was something I had really pushed for” – Salford Councillor welcomes new mental heath report

By KatieHeath on 30th October 2023 in Health

A councillor has welcomed news of a report into mental health services in Salford, after the trust quality rating of Greater Manchester services was deemed to have improved, but was still rated inadequate.

Cllr Sammie Bellamy, Chair of Health and Adult Scrutiny Panel, said: “Residents in my ward have written to me about mental health issues so it was something I had really pushed for to have on the agenda.”

Cllr Bellamy is a councillor for the Walkden ward as well as the Chair of Health and Adult Scrutiny Panel.

The report showed Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlighted the overall trust quality rating inadequate – specifically, ‘are services safe?’ and ‘are services well-led?’ ‘Are services effective, caring and responsive’ were all rated as ‘requires improvement’.

Despite this, there were improvements from the ‘inadequate’ rating to requires improvement in safety and the therapeutic environments in Adult Secure and Forensic Services, community-based mental health services of adults of working age, and for Woodlands Hospital inspection.

GMMH provide inpatient and community-based mental health care to people living in Bolton, Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Wigan, Greater Manchester, the northwest of England and beyond.

The report has stated that Salford performs well in terms of quality outcomes within GMMH – with the opportunity to make further significant quality improvements for Salford citizens and their families.

Historically, Mental Health Services have experienced under investment – though better investment in Salford.

Many opportunities have been highlighted:

Relationships and collaboration with System Partners (Inc Greater Manchester Police (GMP), North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSE)
Mental Health Investment Standard requirements
Investment in Mental Health ambulances
Investment into the GMMH Improvement plan priorities (Year 1 £4.7 million FYE)
Support from NHS E Intensive support team into GMMH
New GMMH leadership team

Across Greater Manchester, the Mental Health system is under continued and sustained pressure with Mental Health being a cross cutting theme in the health and social care system.Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the service inadequate in July 2023 but noted improved culture across GMMH and that staff are more confident in speaking up and observed how patients described staff as “kind”, “lovely” and “cannot fault them”.

GMMH is working to deliver fundamental changes to the safety culture, clinical and corporate governance assurance systems and leadership focus and visibility in the Trust. The Trust is continuing to receive support from the NHS England Intensive Support team via the Recovery Support Programme and are aiming to exit the programme in March 2025.

Across Greater Manchester, the mental health system is under continued and sustained pressure with mental health being a cross cutting theme in the health and social care system.

CQC noted improved culture across GMMH and that staff are more confident in speaking up and observed how patients described staff as “kind”, “lovely” and “cannot fault them”.

The Improvement Plan by Salford Health Scrutiny Committee 2023, is set to be presented in a Salford City Council meeting by the end of the week.