Meeting documents

To consider the report.

The Committee discussed a report summarising the engagement and consultation strategy which was approved by the CCG Governing Body on 16 January 2020 and set out the progress made since the last report.  People who have used mental health services in the past or are using them now have helped shape the new model of care.  It will be easier to access services and to reach a whole system of support through just one referral.  The CCG vision for mental health, and the new mental health model, is innovative.  The approach it intended to enhance and invest in services that are already there, introducing new ones closer to where people live, and making them wholly accessible at every step of the way.  Acute mental health inpatient services for adults of working age are just one part of this whole system of care, a very important component for the relatively small number of people facing the most acute mental health issues.  This proposal is not about money or a reduction in service; in fact, the proposal is to invest more to improve the acute mental health inpatient service.

The central issue under deliberation has been how to provide the optimal inpatient care for those who require treatment for an acute psychiatric episode.  Currently. there are four wards providing acute inpatient mental health care for adults of working age: Rydon 1 and 2 in Taunton (adjacent to other mental health wards), Rowan ward in Yeovil, and St Andrews ward in Wells. Two of these are ‘stand-alone’ wards, meaning that there is not an adjacent mental health ward where support can be drawn upon at times of need.  These wards are St Andrews in Wells and Rowan in Yeovil.  In addition, St Andrews ward in Wells is a long way from the nearest emergency department –it is 45 minutes from St Andrews ward to Royal United Hospital in Bath, compared with several minutes journey time from services located in Yeovil and Taunton, and has limited out of hours support.  Having single wards can cause problems with safe staffing and management of patient risk. When two wards are close to each other, staff from one ward can provide support to the other whenever there is a problem. When there is only one ward, staff have no immediate back-up and have to resort to calling the police or an ambulance. This is the case in St Andrews ward in Wells and Rowan ward in Yeovil.

After a consultation process looking at three options After considering all the evidence, the CCG’s preferred option is to move the beds from St Andrews Ward in Wells to Yeovil, alongside the existing Rowan Ward.  These options will now be subject to a public consultation which will run until 12 April 2020. The feedback from the public consultation will form part of the decision-making business case.

The Committee discussed the report and recommendations and were interested to know why the proposal still had two locations and was told that it was due to the geography of Somerset.  It was confirmed that the proposals would not reduce the number of beds available, as this would remain at 62 beds.  The Committee asked what would happen to those in Wells needing support. The Committee was assured that the day service will continue; the movement was for the in-patient beds only.  The Committee asked about recruitment and retention of staff as well as the options available for the staff currently at St Andrews Ward.  It was confirmed that recruitment and retention is a real challenge across the County but that none of these options will require more staff.  Those staff who will be affected by the proposals will be fully supported and given the option to move, but not required to do so.  What is clear form other units is that a multi-discipline team works better, and the staff feel more adequately supported.

The Committee encouraged those with a particular interest in any of the options to make contact with the CCG and with those leading the consultation, to make sure that all views were considered and to learn the detailed rationale behind the recommendation to move the St Andrews ward inpatient beds to Yeovil in a new ward alongside the existing facility.

The Somerset Scrutiny for Policies, Adults and Health Committee:

·         Considered and commented on the report and supported the proposed move of the Wells inpatient beds to expand the Yeovil facility

·         Welcomed the opportunity to further respond to the consultation