Sheena Cumiskey, Chief Executive Officer for the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership, chaired the Mental Health sub-cell meeting on 26th January 2021.
Key Messages
- Operational and workforce challenges continue to add pressure to mental health services across Cheshire & Merseyside
- As of Tuesday 26th January acute adult bed occupancy was at 94% and PICU beds was at 92% across C&M, although pressure was high at CWP with adult functional bed occupancy at 103%
- It is predicted that demand for all mental health services will rise by ~31% over the next 24 months
Operational Issues/Workforce Challenges
The current challenges are:
- Increased demand and acuity
- Reduced staff numbers through people needing to shield, and COVID related sickness absence
- C&YP Crisis Line is currently experiencing high staff turnover
- Lack of acute bed availability
- A likely surge in potential health needs, with an anticipated increase in demand of ~31% over the next 24 months
- A lack of trained and experienced candidates available in the job market for recruitment
Next steps
- Review the existing Capacity Plan so it is better placed to cope with the expected rise in demand
- Develop predictive capacity modelling for mental health services, budgeted at £36,000 with £24,000 secured from NHS-X
- Further develop the workforce plan as part of the LTP
- Improve workforce monitoring
- Expand the number of entry routes in to the mental health profession with a clear skills accelerator, increase diversity and expand the MH training offer.