Decision of the Secretary of State following Independent Reconfiguration Panel’s review
31/08/2007
Plans to improve care for users of mental health services in Gloucestershire
have been given the go ahead today.
Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's proposals to change the
provision of older people's mental health inpatient facilities in Gloucestershire
have been endorsed by the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, following
recommendations by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.
Following an extensive review of the concerns raised and the details of the
proposals, the Independent Reconfiguration Panel has agreed with recommendations
for inpatient services to be provided from one site in Cheltenham (Charlton
Lane). Patient safety has been the critical factor in reaching this decision,
as focusing the services on one site will provide patients with a higher quality
of care than the current arrangements allow.
Benefits to service users will include:
- an increase in single occupancy rooms in line with national guidance;
- a newly equipped treatment and therapy suite;
- separate provision for individuals experiencing disorders such as dementia from those experiencing illnesses such as depression;
- improved staff cover for medical and psychiatric emergencies.
£2.9 million will be saved by making these changes, and will be invested
back into mental health services. This will mean an extra £3.5 million
will be available this year for people in Gloucestershire with mental health
needs.
The three remaining sites which currently provide mental health services will
continue to do so. Colliers Court (Forest of Dean) and Weavers Croft (Stroud)
will continue to be bases for older people’s community mental health
teams, helping to support people to stay at home.
It is proposed that Holly House (Gloucester) will be developed to provide intermediate
care services, providing a bridge between hospital and home for local people.
This will include care for older people with mental health needs, who no longer
need specialist inpatient care. Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust will involve
and consult with the local community and key stakeholders as plans are developed.
Around 5% of Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s staff
will be affected by these changes. The Trust has made a commitment that no
staff will be made compulsorily redundant. Training will be given where needed
to enable current staff to provide the newly-planned services.
Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust estimates that it will take
approximately 18 months for the proposed improvement works to be completed
on the Charlton Lane site. In the interim, inpatient services will continue
to be provided at both Charlton Lane and Holly House.
The Independent Reconfiguration Panel has listened very carefully to the views
and concerns of local people and the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
in drawing up their recommendations. Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust and
Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust support the recommendations
of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel and both will work closely with Gloucestershire
County Council, NHS partners, carers and users to ensure that the transition
is as seamless as possible.
In particular, Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust and Gloucestershire Partnership
NHS Foundation Trust will be working with Gloucestershire County Council colleagues
to ensure that:
- local transport to Charlton Lane is improved. The concerns that people
in the Cotswolds, Forest of Dean, Stroud and Tewkesbury may have about the
current transport provision are recognised;
- community services for people with mental health problems are improved,
enabling as many patients as possible to be cared for in their own homes;
- community services for patient with mental health needs will be strengthened
as part of these changes. Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust and Gloucestershire
Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are planning further increases in community
staffing in line with the recommendations in the report;
- all improvement and refurbishment work are completed, before final changes to the current services are made.
Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s Medical Director,
Paul Winterbottom, said:
"We welcome this decision. Our intention has always been that patient
care is delivered in the best possible environment and that we deliver the
best possible clinical outcomes.
"Patient safety is at the very centre of these changes. We want to ensure
that patients are treated by highly trained staff, in modern, appropriate facilities.
This includes separate provision for individuals experiencing disorders such
as dementia, from those experiencing illnesses such as depression, which the
Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends as best practice.”
Dr Mike Roberts, local GP said:
"It is important to recognise that in addition to providing safe and secure
inpatient services for people who are seriously unwell, the NHS has an important
responsibility to provide high quality services to the majority of people who
are more appropriately treated in their own homes and in the community. By
strengthening services in our local communities, we can help to reduce the
length of time people spend in hospital and also the number of people who need
to access specialist inpatient care."
Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s Chief Executive, Shaun
Clee, said;
"We are grateful to Gloucestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
for their involvement in this process which we believe will help provide a
better service for the people of Gloucestershire. We will work very closely
with the local community to deliver the changes, and a series of briefings
will take place with the local population in September.
"The decision by the Secretary of State now enables us to provide highly
specialised inpatient care for the 15% of people with mental health needs who
require inpatient treatment. We are absolutely committed to providing locally
accessible community based services for the 85% of patients who can be cared
for at home."
Jan Stubbings, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust said:
"We believe that Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust listened
carefully to the views and concerns of local people and the County's Health
Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Trust revised its proposals in terms of
strengthening community staffing in the county, developing transport arrangements
and ensuring the improvement and refurbishment works are complete before service
changes are fully introduced. We look forward to working with Gloucestershire
Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Gloucestershire County Council to improve
mental health services for the people of Gloucestershire”.
Further Information
- In line with national guidance on privacy, safety and dignity for people
experiencing a stay in hospital, all bedrooms at Charlton Lane will be single
occupancy. In addition, the number of rooms with en suite bathrooms will
increase from the current figure of eight, to a minimum of 36. There will
also be a new fully equipped treatment and therapy suite, which improves
on what is currently available in older people inpatient facilities.
- The Trust is continuing to enhance its 24/7 crisis and home treatment services
for the benefit of patients and carers.
- The Trust expects to transfer inpatient services from Colliers Court and
Weavers Croft over the next few months. The Trust has established an agreement
with transport providers to ensure free carer transport from the Forest of
Dean and Stroud areas to Gloucester or Cheltenham if it is otherwise difficult
for carers to travel. The Trust will not be transferring patients until this
arrangement can be put in place.
Click on the following link to view the Report by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel
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