Agenda item

(a)       Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS FT - Service developments update.

(b)       Improving mental health rehabilitation services for adults – merger of Earlston House and Willow Ward, Darlington.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Operations, Durham and Darlington, Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS FT that provided details of a number of developments within County Durham, highlighted opportunities and issues for Members to identify if they required further detailed updates on any other particular developments (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Director of Operations gave the following updates:-

·         Earlston House, Hambleton – the changes were planned service changes in consultation with the CCGs and would deliver better quality outcomes for patients.

·         Harrogate – TEWV took on the services to re-provide in house acute services that were not fit for purpose.  Land had been bought and it was always the intention to build a new unit however, the level of investment in the patch made it difficult for the unit to remain sustainable.  It had been agreed with the CCGs to pause the plans and look at the re-provision for Friarage Ward and look at options to meet the needs of the population.

·         Roseberry Park – the hospital would not close but weaknesses in the structure of the building had been identified and needed to be addressed as an emergency.  Disruption to staff and patients would be minimised and wards would be emptied two at a time.  Options were still being explored with regards to the forensic part of the site.  Patients would be moved from Roseberry Park to Sandwell Park.  There was potential within the Trust to open additional beds.

The Chairman thanked the Director of Operations for the update but added that he was concerned of the reliance on West Park as apart from Lanchester Road the nearest facility would be Scarborough.  The Director of Operations confirmed that they were monitoring the situation.  The Locality Director for County Durham and Darlington said that they were working closely with colleagues in North Yorkshire and North Tees and daily conversations took place with Lanchester Road and West Park facilities.  He advised that they did have the capacity to increase bed numbers and was being managed currently.  With regards to Sandwell Park he advised that joined up commissioning arrangements were in place.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.