I have just been informed from source News Release; that Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust has pulled the plug on Waters Ward at Bridlington Hospital; this is another nail in the coffin.

As I reported a short time ago this year; the lease runs out in 2010 on Waters ward & Buckrose ward who run the mental health in Bridlington Hospital some 20 beds with 32 staff approx; the lease is owned by the Scarborough NHS Trust; I put the question to Iain McInnes chief executive a short time age; what would happen if the services were lost, he it would have finacial consequences;  we rely on the funding we get. Waters Ward will close in Autume and taken to Castle Hill by all accounts; how are friends & family to get there; another cost saving excercise.....

NEWS RELEASE - 25 July 2007

East Riding Service Review

In response to extensive public consultation, the Trust Board of Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, have today made a decision to phase in changes to mental health services in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

13 consultation events were held throughout the area in addition to meetings with voluntary organisations and partners. Leaflets were distributed to patients, and workshops were held for staff.

The majority of public responses came from the Goole area. Two petitions with over 1,000 signatures protested about the possible closure of Bartholomew House. But strong support was also received to set up intensive home treatment and crisis services to replace in-patient services. However, it was felt that a “cross over” period was needed to reassure local people that the new service would work.

Common themes included: lack of transport for people visiting friends and relatives in hospital; the need for respite for carers; the need for 24 hour crisis services; and local liaison groups to be set up for future developments.

The decision was made to:

• Introduce home treatment for older people across the East Riding and reduce older people's in-patient units from two sites to one. (already approved through consultation in Autumn 2006) Waters Ward at Bridlington & District Hospital will close in Autumn 2007 and beds will transfer to Millview Lodge based at Castle Hill Hospital until a purpose built facility is available in the East Riding.

• Increase community services and centralise adult inpatient units, with the same number of beds at two sites instead of three. But this will not happen until the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust approve funding to set up intensive home treatment and a 24 hour crisis service. This will mean that either the Buckrose ward at Bridlington and District Hospital or the Bartholomew House unit in Goole will close at some point in the future, likely to be three to five years time. This will give the Trust time to phase in community services and carry out a more extensive option appraisal.

• Develop current user and carer groups within each area to encourage involvement in future service developments.

• Work with existing community transport providers and Trust voluntary services to put in place transport for visitors.

Hull Service Review

The Trust Board have endorsed plans to improve mental health services in Hull .

During the twelve week consultation period ten consultation events were held throughout Hull in addition to meetings with voluntary organisations and partners. Leaflets were distributed to patients, and workshops were held for staff. There were no major concerns raised.

The changes will mean re-arranging how teams are managed in the city. Currently there are five community mental health teams covering Hull who assess and care for people aged 18-65. These teams will be replaced by:

• One assessment team which will cover the whole city based at Miranda House, Gladstone Street , Hull . The team will work with people on a short term basis to help resolve mental health issues.

• Three community mental health teams covering East, North/West, Central Hull . These teams will provide longer term care aimed at people with more serious mental health problems.

The same number of staff will work in these teams. However, there could be a change of face for some patients. This has been fully explained during the consultation.

End

Contact: Rachel Iveson, 01482 389115