Shutting down?

Published on 28th September 2006 in News

Elderly people in Goole with mental health problems will benefit from better at-home care but could have to travel miles for hospital treatment if local facilities are moved out of the area.

Speculation is mounting over the future of Rivers Ward at Goole Hospital and plans to close it have come under criticism from local MP David Davis.

In June, the Goole Times reported that the Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust (HMH), who run the 10-bed ward, were looking into closing it after national evidence showed people can be better looked after in their own homes.

Public consultation on the decision has come to an end and it is now down to the trust to decide what to do. No date for the decision has been given.

A spokesperson for HMH said: "The trust is still in the process of completing its consultation regarding the provision of older people's mental health services in the East Riding of Yorkshire area.

"The closure of Rivers Ward is one of the elements being considered."

One option is to build another central mental health unit in East Yorkshire, although no site has been identified for this.

The spokesperson told the Goole Times that the Rivers Ward "is not ideal for providing a hospital-based mental health service for older people."

MP not behind cuts proposal

Howden MP and Shadow Home Secretary David Davis has been critical of the changes, saying that reducing in-patient care to one location "could seriously impact on patient accessiblity."

However, the HMH said that if the Rivers Ward were to close, patients would benefit from a better service as staff and resources were focused on providing care to patients in their own homes.

"The majority of people who receive mental health services in Goole currently receive them within the community and not by being admitted to hospital," she said.

"Currently Rivers Ward is not open as there are no patients requiring hospital care in the area."

Transferring the resources from a hospital based service such as Rivers Ward will enable the trust to increase the number of staff providing care to people in the community.

"The small number of people who, over time, would need to be admitted to hospital for their mental health care would have their needs met at the current older people's mental health unit based at Castle Hill Hospital."

The problem of visiting those who do need hospital treatment came up during the public consultation but HMH said they would work with its voluntary section and the local authority to help anyone having difficulties travelling.