Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Council Chamber - 02/04/2007 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A6 Outcome of Consultation on Psychiatric Intensive Care Services for County Durham and Darlington
| Report of Head of Overview and Scrutiny |
1 BACKGROUND
1.1 Following a review of the psychiatric intensive care services for County Durham and Darlington a public consultation was launched on 1 November 2006 to agree that the temporary relocation of the PICU facility in North Durham was made permanent.
1.2 The background to the consultation is that the TEWV NHS Trust had carried out a review into PICU provision for County Durham and Darlington following the temporary transfer facilities from North Durham to West Park. The outcome of the review suggested that there was sufficient capacity in West Park to meet the needs of the whole of County Durham in regard to PICU services and therefore the proposal to develop a new PICU on the Lanchester Road Hospital site would not be necessary from a clinical perspective.
2 KEY ISSUES
2.1 A 14-week consultation process was undertaken from 1 November 2006 through to 6 February 2007 (two weeks were added to the normal consultation period because of Christmas and New Year). The consultation was supported through the use of briefing leaflets to all key stakeholders including service user and carer groups, staff, local health and social care organisations, local authorities, community and voluntary agencies, MPs, police, fire and prison services.
The consultation public meetings were publicised by:
- news releases to the local media,
- letters to stakeholders,
- paid advertisements in local newspapers,
- web site,
- monthly written briefings to staff and stakeholders.
2.2 In support of the consultation five public meetings were held in Durham, Chester-le-Street, Consett and Darlington. There were 30 people who attended the public meetings. There were also six meetings for staff held at the County Hospital in Durham, Derwent Clinic at Shotley Bridge and West Park Hospital in Darlington. There were 40 members of staff who attended these meetings.
Meetings were also held with service user and carer groups and the Public and Patient Involvement Forum.
2.3 At each of the meetings notes were taken of the comments made. Also written communication was received from a small number of stakeholders in regard to the consultation. A more detailed response to each of the comments made in regard to the consultation is included in the full report attached as Attachment 1. However, key points raised fall into the following categories:
- Taxi service - to continue with the free taxi service
- Transportation of patients - need to ensure the safe transportation of patients
- Safe room at the County Hospital - to review and improve the safe room at the County Hospital in Durham
- Staffing levels on the acute wards at Durham - to ensure adequate staffing levels to manage potentially high levels of risk
- Future capacity - to monitor the future capacity in regard to PICU services
- Impact on acute wards - to monitor the impact on acute wards with one PICU
- Lanchester Road Hospital - to ensure ‘future proofing’ of the new hospital so it can be flexible in meeting future clinical demands
- Impact on other services - to monitor the impact on other services e.g. rehabilitation and special care
- To ensure continuity of care for patients
- Changes to the original consultation on the Tony White Unit - which was to be temporary
- Local services - to ensure local services wherever possible for local people
- Choice - to consider the choice agenda in mental health and impact on the use of our facilities
2.4 The various comments received through the consultation as outlined in Appendix 1 have been grouped under the following headings:
- Capacity at West Park
- The future of Lanchester Road Hospital
- Transport issues
- Impact on other mental health services
- Continuity of care
- Retention of local services
- Consultation process
- Patient choice
In the responses outlined in Appendix 1 to each of the above areas, the Trust has given a commitment to continue to monitor and develop mental health services in light of the responses. Therefore, the ongoing development of mental health services in County Durham and Darlington will include a review of the issues on an ongoing basis.
3 CONCLUSIONS 3.1 The Trust has undertaken a consultation under the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Section 11) which requires healthcare organisations to consult on a significant change to service delivery.
3.2 The outcome of the consultation has been discussed with the Patient and Public Involvement Forum who were satisfied that a robust consultation had taken place and were generally supportive of the proposal as long as the free taxi service remained in place and that patients and their relatives were made aware of the facility on admission and through the CMHTs.
3.3 A full and robust consultation has taken place. The comments received have been very helpful and have allowed clarity on key concerns which are addressed in the full report attached. It also allowed the opportunity for the Trust to emphasise its commitment to the new hospital at Lanchester Road.
5 RECOMMENDATION 5.1 That the Sub Committee note the outcome of the consultation (Appendix 1), namely that County Durham PCT have approved the permanent relocation of the Psychiatric Intensive Care Service beds to West Park Hospital.
| Contact: Fesial Jassat Tel: 0191 383 3506 |
TO VIEW APPENDIX 1 PLEASE CLICK ON PDF ATTACHMENT OR REFER TO HARD COPIES LOCATED IN CORPORATE SERVICES AND THE COUNTY RECORD OFFICE
Attachments
PICU appendix.pdf;
PICU report.pdf