News Lifeline for town's mental health unit
ABOVE: MP Ian Cawsey paid a visit to the unit on Wednesday, where he met Division Manager Lisa Smith.
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The Humber Mental Health Trust is to delay the possible closure of the Bartholomew House mental health unit in Goole for between three and five years.
The Trust recently went out to consultation on proposals to reduce the number of adult in-patient mental health units in East Yorkshire from three to two by closing either Bartholomew House or the Buckrose Ward at Bridlington Hospital. The proposal was to increase the amount of care provided in the home and community, which the Trust felt would reduce the need for in-patient care.
Prospective Goole MP Andrew Percy said: "The Trust has now met and has decided not to close either of the threatened units for between three and five years. Instead, the Trust will wait until the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust approve funding to set up intensive home treatment and a 24-hour crisis service. The Trust has also agreed to carry out a more extensive option appraisal before making further changes. I hope that these will include proposals that will produce a mix of in-patient care and more home treatment."
The Trust has also decided to develop current user and carer groups within each area to encourage involvement in future service developments and work with existing community transport providers and Trust voluntary services to put in place transport for visitors.
Goole MP Ian Cawsey lobbied for a 24-hour crisis team, more home-based services to support local families, for Barts to remain as an inpatient provider alongside the new services and the establishment of local support groups for users and carers so they can play a key role in developing future service provision. He is very pleased with the result.
Mr Cawsey said: "Naturally, I am delighted that the Trust has listened and responded to points I raised on behalf of all the users and carers I met with. There was a clear view that the service needs to be improved but people wanted reassurance that this would not leave them in a vulnerable state with less local provision.
"The Trust is obviously sensitive to that and I believe they are genuinely committed to improving mental health services in our area and in giving a voice for further developments to those who rely on these services."
He added: "Experience across the country shows that crisis teams and home based support leads to less demand on beds but we need to be reassured that there will be an appropriate number in the future. I also hope that this process is a basis for greater confidence in the relationship between the Trust and their users and carers.
"When I first met local people on this issue they felt sure they would not be listened to and they could not influence their future service provision. But the Trust did listen and has tried to recommend changes that will command widespread support."
Andrew Percy pointed out: "We are obviously delighted that Barts House has received a reprieve but it is important to remember that the battle for Barts could well resume in a few years' time. In the meantime the carers and I will be fighting to ensure that the profile of Barts House remains as high as possible. I will be starting up a Friends of Barts House Group, which I hope will help not only to keep Barts House in the public domain but also to raise money for mental health services locally."
Mr Cawsey stated: "This is a good outcome, I would like to thank all the people in Goole who helped throughout the process. It is always a plus to be able to show that I have strong support in the local community for my endeavours on their behalf. The Government is committing considerably more money to mental health services and we want to ensure that locally we see improvements for our community. I hope this is a positive start and we can move on together from this point."
Published on 2nd August 2007 in News.
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