The Gloucestershire County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Oct 10th to consider the Gloucestershire Partnership Trust proposals for Older People's Mental Health Inpatient Services.
Members of the OSC made clear to the Partnership Trust that they were very concerned about these older people's proposals.
The OSC acknowledges that there are potential clinical benefits from having a centre of excellence in Gloucestershire for those people with the most significant mental health problems, but believes that inpatient services for people with less acute problems could still be provided in the present community localities.
The three threatened hospitals presently located in communities are Weavers Croft, Stroud, Colliers Court, Cinderford and Holly House, Gloucester.
Whilst recognising the need for the Trust to achieve financial balance, the OSC wanted to understand more fully the full impact of the proposals on the community and on patients. In order to be able to do this the OSC have asked the Partnership Trust a number of questions:-
- they would like an analysis of the potential impact and likely outcomes resulting from the Trust's reorganisation and reduction in community services
- they would like an assessment of the impact on visitors as a result of the proposed centralisation of services and the Trust's actions to address the expected difficulties
- they would like plans of the proposed layout and facilities at Charlton Lane and details about the timescale for the renovation work planned
The next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be on Monday November 6th. The Partnership Trust may bring answers to the above questions to this meeting.