Will the Minister explain why 10 per cent of patients at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board were not in receipt of a valid care and treatment plan, and state what target has been set for valid care plans going forward?
The target set out in the NHS Delivery Plan for performance under the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 (the “Measure”) is that 90% of “Relevant Patients” are in receipt of a valid Care and Treatment Plan (CTP). The reason that the target is not set at 100% is to allow for the time period to appoint a Care Co-ordinator and to develop and write a CTP. A 100% target would require a CTP to be immediately in place as soon as a decision is made that the person is accepted into secondary mental health services and is a “Relevant Patient”. This would, in most cases, be impracticable and counter the guidance set out in the Code of Practice for Parts 2 and 3 of the Measure in relation to the preparation of person-centred CTPs in consultation with others.
Whilst there are no statutory timescales, the Code of Practice recommends (in all but exceptional circumstances) the appointment of a Care Co-ordinator within 14 days of acceptance of the person into services and for a CTP to be completed within 6 weeks of the appointment of the Care Co-ordinator.
A valid Care and Treatment plan for the purposes of the NHS Delivery Framework target of 90% includes a CTP that has been reviewed. The Part 2 regulations require that a review must be held, as a minimum, at least once in any 12-month period. However, reviews should be needs-led and should be held as frequently as required.