Mental health beds face axe
SCORES of beds for people with mental illness in North Staffordshire are facing closure or review in the next year by an NHS Trust needing to slash millions of pounds from its spending budget.
The 48 beds under threat are for patients recovering from brain injury, needing short-term help to stay out of hospital or in the grip of a psychiatric emergency.
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The changes, still subject to consultation, were unveiled today by Combined Healthcare Trust.
The Sentinel also revealed earlier this month that nearly 100 white-collar NHS support workers face redundancy because of services switching to other organisations and an expected £20 million budget reduction.
Trust officials say the plans are needed to ensure services "remain relevant for the local population's needs and fit for purpose".
But according to patient groups, they "utterly disregard" what users want to aid their recovery.
The biggest threat faces the four remaining eight-bed mental health resource centres for people needing short-term residential treatment.
Even though retiring chairman Dr Eddie Slade named their creation as one of his proudest achievements, two closed or had their beds redesignated two years ago amid protests from patients.
Now two others, the Sutherland at Longton and Lymebrook in Bradwell, will lose their beds to patients being transferred fromNorth Staffordshire's main psychiatric hospital, the Harplands, for long-term rehabilitation.
And a document to be considered by Combined's board tomorrow announces the closure of the 16 beds at the final two units – Bennett in Shelton and Ashcombe in Cheddleton – by next March.
But the issue descended into confusion when the trust's bosses said the paper – written by chief executive Fiona Myers – should not have been issued and those beds would stay at last until December 2010 to allow a review into their use. The report also details how 16 more beds will be axed from the Harplands.
Ten are in the neuropsychiatry unit while the Harplands intensive care unit will reduce from 20 to 14 beds.
Meanwhile pensioners with non-dementia mental illness currently at Bradwell Hospital will use the Harplands beds vacated by the move of patients to Sutherland and Lymebrook.
Lorien Barber, director of the North Staffordshire Users Group, said: "Closing the resource centre beds is appalling. They are extremely popular with users. I fear they won't even seek help if the only option is Harplands."
Combined's nursing director David Pearson said: "Community resource centre beds remain key and are highly valued by our patients. Work will continue with commissioners to identify the most effective use of these beds for the future."
2 Comments
by Ken, porthill
Thursday, March 26 2009, 4:16AM
“Dave
I agree with everthing you say.I was told by a C.P.N. don't try to change the system,you won't win.When you face the stonewall of local bureacracy what can you do.
I have received good support from my M.P. and written to House of Lords,they listen.
The people with mental illness and their carers and families suffer in their millions.
We know the present funding is inadequate.
To cut it even further would be criminal neglect of the most vulnerable people in the community.
I have been to Harplands many times,It is state of the art in mental health care.
There is a desperate need for another Harplands somewhere outside the city away from the stress for long term treatment,and with severe mental illness medication is vital.and no half term measures will ever work.this will save money in the future and more importantly make real progress possible for many who deserve to have a decent life, an ordinary life we all take for granted.
Harplands will never tell you how many people they turn away when in crisis. Its time for professionals to speak out.and for all of us to add our voice.”
by Dave, Bentilee
Wednesday, March 25 2009, 6:54PM
“Is this service for people experiencing a mental illness there to provide treatment by medication only?
Treatment for a mental illness requires more than medication it requires sensitivity it requires peace, it needs someone to listen, it requires being in a place away from the stresses of life where a person can calm down, things that medication can not provide. Reducing the number of beds within the community is saying to those experiencing mental ill health we do not provide the care we are only here to pump you with drugs, if you want the rest go and find another organisation willing to take you on.
Medication on its own is not a cure for mental illness in fact it has led to the death of some!
It is time that the Commissioners of the mental health services sat down with those that have experienced mental illness and listen to what they have to say because all they have done in the past is let it go in one ear and out the other and commissioned what others have said should be provided and those people had never experienced mental illness.”