Agenda and minutes

Councillor Armand Watts was nominated as Chair by Councillor Dale Rooke, which was seconded by Councillor Jill Bond.

It was agreed that this item would be deferred to the next ordinary meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Penny Jones, who was being substituted by Councillor Maureen Powell.

Councillor Jill Bond declared a non-prejudicial interest relating to her position on Llais Cymru.

None present.

Liz Andrew (Consultant Clinical Psychologist, ABHB) and Louise Turner (Director of Mental Health, ABHB) introduced the report, delivered a presentation, and answered the members’ questions.

Key questions from Members:

• Is there any more up-to-date data available, and did the pandemic affect the data?

More contemporary data will be available by the end of July. The pandemic initially appeared to be protective, with a significant dip in suicides during the first 12 months, but there has been a small peak since then.

• What does the "unknown" category in the graph on page 10 represent, and what does "local" mean?

The “unknown” category includes cases where the cause of death was known, but the reason was unclear, such as misadventure. “Local” refers to the Gwent area.

• Is there enough provision for resilience and coping, and can more be done to support attachment and attunement in early years?

There are significant efforts in place, such as the parent-infant mental health service and perinatal mental health teams. More can be done in schools to educate young people about emotional literacy and well-being.

• Why do the figures on page 8 not match the 356 deaths mentioned earlier in the report?

The 356 deaths refer to the Welsh Government's real-time surveillance survey data, while the figures on page 8 are from local health board data, which uses slightly different parameters.

• Is there any data on the farming community and suicide rates?

While specific data on farming communities is not available, rurality is a known factor. National data indicates that professions with access to means, such as farming, have higher suicide rates.

• What are "safe wards"?

Safe wards refer to environments designed to minimize risks, such as removing ligature points and isolated corners, and fostering a culture of proactive engagement and emotional literacy.

• How effective are initiatives like Movember in raising awareness?

Initiatives like Movember are effective in raising awareness and fostering community support, as seen in local projects like the Jolly Brew crew.

• Do you have any data on the initial impact of COG in Newport? (Question from MIND)

Yes, there is data available, showing positive evaluations in areas like A&E attendance, signposting, relapse, and reconviction rates. Further details can be provided by the psychologist leading the project and the local authority partner.

• What are the plans to overcome Co-occurring needs such as neurodiversity and mental health or substance misuse and mental health across the county?

The new mental health strategy delivery plan and suicide self-harm strategies aim to ensure seamless support for people with Co-occurring illnesses, working collectively as a region to address these issues.

• As a priest, I deal with families after suicide and face questions about preventing suicide, recognizing signs, and addressing the impact on children and the community. There is a need for more support in rural communities. There are challenges faced by families and it is very important to provide empathy and support during such difficult times.

Louise acknowledged the importance of faith and community support in helping  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Amanda Whent (Lead Dementia Nurse, ABHB) and Jennifer Winslade (Executive Director of Nursing, ABHB) introduced the report, delivered a presentation and answered the members’ questions:

Key Questions from Members:

• What are the contact details for dementia champions, and how sufficient is the funding? 

Amanda explained that there are 286 dementia champions across the region, and the information is held in a database. She acknowledged the need to provide specific details for Monmouthshire and offered to produce a paper outlining the specifics, including care homes and schools involved.

• I would be interested in seeing the performance targets for 2025 and progress to date, including monitoring and performance standards.

Amanda mentioned that they use key performance indicators (KPIs) and benchmarking against national models to measure progress. She offered to share the KPIs and performance data in a future presentation (Action: Scrutiny Manager to take forward).

• Are there mitigation strategies to reduce the speed of dementia onset, including advice on diet, exercise, and prevention?

Amanda highlighted the importance of prevention and mentioned that they are working on various factors, including cholesterol management and trauma-based interventions. She noted that public health and primary care partnerships are crucial for addressing prevention and early intervention.

• What are the results from Workstream 1 in Newport and how it will be rolled out in Monmouthshire, considering the differences between the two areas.

Amanda explained that the principles of the citizens' engagement model initially piloted in Newport have been applied across Gwent. The approach involves going into various community settings to gather feedback and tailor services to local needs.

• Please can you provide the details about the dementia connectors, including who they are and whether there are enough of them?

Amanda acknowledged that there are not enough dementia connectors to meet the current needs. However, recent funding has been allocated to develop specific roles, and recruitment efforts are ongoing to increase the number of connectors.

• Is hearing loss linked to an increased likelihood of developing dementia and if so, is it important to address hearing issues early?

Amanda confirmed that there is a high correlation between hearing loss and dementia. She explained that addressing hearing issues early can reduce the risk of dementia. The audiology team is involved in delivering a dementia experience programme to raise awareness and improve screening processes for those with cognitive decline.

• Is there collation and regular contact between local dementia-friendly groups and the health board.?

Amanda explained that the dementia-friendly communities have a monthly meeting where information is shared. They use a padlet and the ABUHB internet pages to upload and share information about ongoing activities and opportunities for engagement. The dementia hubs are intended to be a central point for accessing information and services.

• How accessible are the dementia hubs? Is there a need for better coordination and communication of available resources in local communities?

Amanda explained that the dementia hubs are in their infancy, with plans to expand and improve communication. She acknowledged the challenge of raising awareness and the need for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The minutes were confirmed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

The invitation to attend Place Scrutiny Committee on 10^th July 2025 to scrutinise the Local Flood Strategy was noted.

The Committee agreed that the Scrutiny Manager should organise a Special Public Services Scrutiny Committee Meeting to discuss the ABUHB Consultation on Nevill Hall Hospital.

The Committee agreed they would like to scrutinise the changes to the ambulance performance framework, which would be added to the forward work programme.

It was agreed that a Special Meeting of the Committee would be held on 28^th October 2025 to invite the Police and Crime commissioner to discuss Community Safety and Police Resourcing in Monmouthshire.

Councillor Bond highlighted the need to consider the progress on delivering Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence services at the earliest opportunity.

Councillor Taylor questioned whether it would be possible for the Committee to have oversight of the work of the Cardiff Capital Region. The Chair explained that the remit is vast and that there is an existing Joint Scrutiny Committee comprising 10 Councils in the Cardiff Capital Region and that its purpose is to hold the Corporate Joint Committee to account for delivery of programmes relating to the remit of the Cardiff Capital Region and that there may be duplication in the Committee being involved in scrutiny of this matter. It was agreed that guidance would be sought outside of the meeting to clarify whether the Committee had a legitimate role in scrutinising matters relating to the CCR (Action: Scrutiny Manager).

Noted.

Monday 13th October 2025 at 10.00am.