Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from County Borough Councillors J Cullwick, A Davies-Jones, J Elliott, M Forey, H Fychan, K Jones, G Holmes, W Owen, S Rees-Owen, S Pickering, E Stephens, M Tegg and J Williams.

To receive disclosures of personal interests from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest;and

2.     Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when theyleave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, the following declarations of Personal interest were made pertaining to the agenda:

County Borough Councillor G Caple – “My son is a doctor at the Princess for Wales Hospital in Bridgend”

County Borough Councillor G Caple – “I am a member of the Community Health Council”

County Borough Councillor Sheryl Evans – “I work for the NHS”

County Borough Councillor P Jarman – “I am a former member of Cwm Taf LHB”

County Borough Councillor R Yeo – “My wife works for Cwm Taf UHB in Prince Charles Hospital”

County Borough Councillor J Davies – “I work for Cwm Taf UHB”

County Borough G Jones – “I am a member of the Community Health Council”

County Borough Councillor M Norris – “My niece works for Cwm Taf UHB”

County Borough Councillor S Morgans – “My daughter is a nurse at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital””

County Borough Councillor R Lewis – “I have a family member who works for the Health Board”

County Borough Councillor L M Adams – “My nephew is a doctor in Bridgend”

County Borough Councillor L M Adams - “My wife is in receipt of an NHS pension”

County Borough Councillor M Fidler Jones – “I am a public affair professional with responsibility for lobbying the Cwm Taf Health Board inclusive of Mental Health Services”

County Borough Councillor P Howe – “My daughter is a Doctor of Psychology and Research and works for the NHS”

County Borough Councillor G R Davies – “I worked for Cwm Taf UHB 3 years ago”

County Borough Councillor K Morgan – “I work for Cwm Taf UHB”

County Borough Councillor S Trask – “My wife is an employee of NHS Wales”

County Borough Councillor Sera Evans “I am Head of UK Recruitment at the University of South Wales”

To receive representatives from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, providing Members with an update in respect of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and other key work of the Board.

The Chairman of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Professor Marcus Longley thanked RCT Council for inviting the Board members to address Full Council. He paid tribute to the staff at the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council for their commitment and dedication over the last 15 months coping with the pressures of work.

Through the aid of Power point slides the Chief Executive of the Cwm Taf University Health Board., Mr Paul Mears, presented an overview of key matters under the following headings:

Ø  Covid update – Response to Covid Update

An update on three key matters, testing, vaccinations and Covid rehabilitation

Ø  Elective recovery programme

Details in respect of the Planned Care Recovery and Urgent Care Improvement Programmes

Ø  Primary Care focus

Emphasis on a number of key areas such as the adoption of e-consult and the proposal for a ‘Flow Centre’ known as ‘to navigate callers to NHS 111.

Ø  Maternity & Neonatal services

An update on the Maternity and Neonatal Improvement Programme and continued close working with the Independent Maternity Services Oversight Panel (IMSOP)

There followed a further Power Point presentation in respect of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg CAMHS, specifically regarding how the service has progressed over the past year and consideration of the challenges ahead, including the partnership work with the Local Authorities.

Ø  CAMHS in CTM

Ø  New Investment 2021/22

To include an update on both WG and ICF funding

Ø  Key Improvements – Early Intervention

Renewed focus on joint working opportunities and building relationships with partner agencies

Ø  Key Improvements – Covid

Maintaining the service throughout Covid and ongoing face to face Crisis services 7 days a week

Ø  Key Improvements – CAMHS

An update on the single point of access provision, staffing and service redesign

Ø  Future Vision & Plans

An overview of future plans to include the need for continued rapid response and flexibility over the next 12-24 months and embedding new models and pathways.

The Leader of the Council

County Borough Councillor A Morgan thanked members of Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB for their attendance and updates on the CAMHS and wider issues. He suggested that further update sessions would be arranged to address issues around Covid recovery and Primary care services such as elective surgery. The Leader acknowledged that the CAMH service has previously been under pressure and with the return to full time education he envisaged that the support would be greatly needed.

The Leader asked whether there are still vacancies and pressures on staff and how is recruitment to the service?

Councillor P Jarman – Leader of the Opposition

Councillor Jarman highlighted the need for the CAMHS service and asked how many children are on the CAMHS waiting list?

Is there a similar arrangement in RCT to that in Merthyr Tydfil where ophthalmic services have recently been supplemented by an arrangement with Specsavers and the Trust?

Councillor M Powell – Leader of the RCT Independent Group

Councillor Powell asked whether the high rates of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.