Discussion on proposed changes to acute care services at NELFT.
Minutes:
NELFT officers explained that the introduction of home treatment teams had led to fewer in-patient beds being needed for local mental health services. NELFT had a fairly long average length of stay (20-25 days) but someone did have to be quite ill to be admitted. Mascalls Park acute hospital had been shut in recent years and a new but smaller in-patient unit opened at Sunflowers Court, Goodmayes Hospital. Younger adult in-patients were treated at Naseberry Court in Waltham Forest.
Naseberry Court had a total of 41 beds for patients of 16 years and over. The unit was 16 years old but had what was now an outdated design. The Committee was welcome to visit Naseberry Court if it wished. Staff observation was often difficult in the unit and there were sometimes problems with people absconding. Naseberry Court was also at least 25 minutes drive from Goodmayes Hospital which could make it difficult if support was needed from the other unit.
The NELFT officers emphasised that most mental health services were now provided in the community. The total number of hospital beds across the NELFT area was now less than 300, a far lower figure than previously. The NELFT home treatment team also worked on wards in order to assist discharge etc. If Naseberry Court was to be closed, NELFT aimed to commission a home treatment team for older people as well as support people with dementia. The overall effect of the proposed reorganisation would be to reduce total numbers of NELFT adult male beds from 80 to 75 and adult female beds from 58 to 40. Beds in Sunflowers Court at Goodmayes Hospital would rise by 20 male and 5 female beds.
Naseberry Court now only rarely reached 100% occupancy. Its closure would allow NELFT to create additional home treatment teams and increase staffing levels on acute wards. It was emphasised that the closure of Naseberry Court was for clinical reasons and had been driven by clinicians. The closure would also produce a financial saving which would assist NELFT to make its required efficiency savings.
There would be a three month public consultation starting shortly. This would be led by NHS North East London and the City although NELFT would be partners. This would be followed by a one month staff consultation period. Subject to the results of the consultation, it was possible that Naseberry Court would be closed in February 2013 although this was not definite.
It was felt that locating the inpatient service at Goodmayes would allow more equality of access across the local boroughs. An equalities impact assessment had been carried out on the change and the longer travel distances were being considered by the NELFT carers’ reference group.
NELFT was now providing both community and mental health services and this would allow services to be integrated more closely. For example smoking cessation and weight management services could be offered, where appropriate, to mental health service users. It was agreed that the dates for a visit to Naseberry Court being organised by London Borough of Redbridge would be circulated to interested Members of the Joint Committee.
The NELFT officers emphasised that they wished to demonstrate the benefits of the proposals as part of the consultation. Fewer people now needed to stay in hospital for mental health reasons and those that did were usually hospitalised for a shorter period of time.
Members asked if the consultation papers would break down the catchment area of Naseberry Court by electoral ward in order to show the proportion of users from e.g. Redbridge. The NELFT officers responded that this could be provided but Naseberry Court now saw almost entirely patients from Waltham Forest in any case. There would be no major changes to the existing home treatment teams as a result of the proposals but most of the new investment would be in staff on the wards. It was emphasised that NELFT would still have sufficient in-patient beds for those people requiring them. Members also suggested that the consultation papers give details of the numbers of people treated by home treatment teams both before and after the changes and that a copy of the relevant equalities impact assessment be forwarded to the Committee.
The NELFT officers confirmed that they were awaiting approval from NHS North East London and the City to start the consultation which was likely to run during the August-October period at the latest.
The Committee AGREED that an update on the plans be given at its meeting in January 2013.