The Medical Director, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust will attend the meeting on behalf of the Partnership Chair to update the Committee on the formation of the Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Board.  The presentation will focus on Autism/Neurodiversity and will include information on how people with autism and their families and carers will be included, how issues have been identified as priorities, how it hopes to address these, how progress will be monitored and oversight arrangements.

(David Sims - 01274 228300)

The Medical Director, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust attended the meeting on behalf of the Partnership Chair to update the Committee on the formation of the Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Board.  He provided a presentation which focussed on Autism/Neurodiversity and included information on how people with autism and their families and carers would be included, the manner in which issues had been identified as priorities, the way it was hoped to address those priorities, how progress would be monitored and the oversight arrangements.

A Member reassured by the presentation raised two areas of concern.  That people were unable to access assessments and that there were only two professionals to deal with 350+ people waiting.  She referred to a previous commitment to review findings that the Clinical Commissioning Group had the lowest spend on neurodiversity in the country.  It was questioned if that review had occurred as it was felt that if not the current situation would continue. 

In response it was explained that services were committed to Act As One and people should not have to wait for three years for an assessment or diagnosis.  People could be identified and services provided on a needs led basis. Current funding had been increased and additional funds accessed. 

There was a high level of poverty in Bradford and a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) funding bid had been submitted as a commitment to deliver a service in areas with significant vulnerable people. Actions would be evaluated and if effective would be replicated across the district.

The service was at an early stage of a programme to move from a diagnosis led approach to a needs led service and significant progress had been made.  It was intended to effect change and people and the Voluntary Community Service would be actively involved.  Reassurances were provided that the service would look at different approaches and sought to do things collectively.

It was confirmed that the waiting lists were still receiving referrals but it was questioned how long it would take to clear lists if only two people were involved.  It was re-iterated that a business case for additional funding had been developed but a lot would depend upon funding settlements from NHS England.  Not all people on the waiting lists would go through complete assessments as during that process it could become clear that issues were elsewhere. 

Members questioned from where referrals were originating and it was reported that 95% of people on the waiting list had been referred by their General Practitioner (GP).  Since doctors had been given more information on autism approximately 40% of those on the list would be diagnosed.  Assurances were provided that collaborative work with Leeds at Integrated Care Service level was being undertaken to increase resources and create more resilience.

A Member expressed frustration that the issues raised had been highlighted long before the pandemic and believed that nothing had changed to improve the service provided to autistic people.  In response the Senior Officer, Strategy, Change and Delivery disagreed with that statement.  It was explained that the BANDS team had staffing issues and it had been difficult to recruit.  The team were dealing with 45 to 50 assessments per year and demand was outstripping available resources.

Whilst acknowledging that neurodiversity was not easy to assess a Member questioned if it was necessary for the assessment process to take two people two weeks to process.  He also referred to information he felt was lacking in the report provided including the number of people who had left the system before assessments were completed and the rate of referral.  It was confirmed that Members would request a future update and it was suggested that this should include case studies and an indication of the resources required to resolve the issues occurring.

Resolved –

That a progress update on the work of the Bradford District Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Partnership Board be presented to the Committee in 12 months.

Action: Chief Executive, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust