Agenda item

To receive a report outlining the Panel’s preliminary views on NHS Cambridgeshire’s current consultation on the proposed redesign of mental health services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Mr John Ellis, Head of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Substance Misuse Commissioning for NHS Cambridgeshire and Ms Annette Newton, Director of Operations for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust will be in attendance at the meeting.

30 Minutes.

(Mr J Ellis, Head of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Substance Misuse Commissioning for NHS Cambridgeshire, Ms A Newton, Director of Operations for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Dr J Richmond, Lead Member of Hunts Health Commissioning Consortium, were in attendance for consideration of this item).

Pursuant to Minute No. 11/69, the Panel received a presentation by Mr J Ellis, Head of Substance Misuse Commissioning for NHS Cambridgeshire on NHS Cambridgeshire’s consultation on the Proposed Redesign of Mental Health Services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. He outlined how and why the proposals had been developed, what the main proposals were, the public engagement methods that had been employed, emerging themes arising from feedback received to date together with the issues raised at public meetings and by the Joint Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Members of the public were then invited to address the Panel on their views on the content of the consultation document. Six members of the public addressed the Panel, comprising service users, their carers and family members. In addition, six letters of correspondence had been received, summaries of which were tabled at the meeting and are appended in the Minute Book. The views expressed were largely concerned with the proposed closure of Acer Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and the impact that the closure would have on both patients and their visitors. The representations which had been received referred to the valuable service that Acer Ward provided to Huntingdonshire residents and the impact that the proposals would have on patients and visitors who would be required to travel to and from Peterborough and Cambridge.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel were reminded of their initial comments on the proposals. Prior to opening up the Panel’s discussions the Chairman sought clarification from representatives in attendance at the meeting on the clinical reasons for the proposed closure of Acer Ward together with details of what support services were currently not available at the Hinchingbrooke site. Dr J Richmond stated that “Care in the Community” methods would be employed to assist those patients undergoing rehabilitation and that only a reduction in the number of rehabilitation beds was being proposed. The same number of acute beds would remain available in Cambridgeshire, which were well equipped with the latest technology to support acute admissions.

The Panel expressed concerns over the travel implications of the proposals in terms of their effects on the health of patients and the practical difficulties that would be created and costs that would be incurred. In addition, the Panel raised a number of questions relating to the costs of upgrading Acer Ward, whether better outcomes would be produced at the Peterborough site, had a Community Impact Assessment been undertaken and if the findings of the Public Health Joint Strategic Health Needs Assessment had been taken into account. Questions were also raised about the level of engagement with Circle Healthcare on the proposals, the effectiveness of the new 24/7 Advice and Brief Intervention Centre, the availability of community staff together with their ability to attend crisis situations.

Having received responses to the questions which had been raised, the Panel unanimously agreed that the case for the closure of Acer Ward had not been satisfactorily justified. Sufficient evidence had not been provided that mental health facilities in Peterborough would produce better outcomes than those achieved at Acer Ward. In addition, Members were not satisfied that the proposals had taken into account anticipated population growth projections in both Cambridgeshire and Peterborough or that adequate consideration had been given to the travel implications of the proposals. Furthermore, Members concluded that the formal closure of Acer Ward could be detrimental to the health and well-being of patients thereby impacting on their rehabilitation. However, the Panel supported the proposals to strengthen and further enhance the primary community services available to mental health patients, their carers and their families.

The value of the service to Huntingdonshire was recognised by Members. They expressed strong views that mental health services should be retained in Acer Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and suggested that NHS Cambridgeshire should undertake a thorough exploration of all options through which mental health services could be retained at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. This included investigating the joint appointment of clinical physicians across Hospitals. Having expressed their concerns at the lack of engagement with Circle Healthcare on the proposals, and owing to their wish to retain the facility at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, the Panel agreed to meet with representatives of Circle to discuss the options to preserve the facility within the Hospital.

In noting that responses to the consultation would be required by 16^th January 2012 and following a suggestion made by a Member to obtain the Cabinet’s support on the Panel’s response, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that a response to the consultation on the Proposed Redesign of Mental Health Services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough be submitted to NHS Cambridgeshire to include the Panel’s comments as set out above;

b)  that the Panel’s response be circulated to the Cabinet for their endorsement prior to its submission to NHS Cambridgeshire; and

c)  that a meeting with Circle Healthcare be established to discuss the options to preserve the mental health facility within Hinchingbrooke Hospital.