Public urged to have their say on mental health and learning disability services
The local NHS has today launched a formal consultation on proposals to improve mental health and learning disability services
People in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield are being asked for their views on relocating the services currently provided at St Luke’s Hospital by South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust.
The proposals have been developed following discussions with hundreds of individuals and groups over the last eighteen months. The proposals would see hospital beds for adults and older people relocated to the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary site, with out-patient and community services also continuing to be provided in the local area.
Under the proposals, the Castle Hill and Newhaven Units at St Luke’s, which provide low secure services for people with more challenging behaviour, would be relocated to the Fieldhead site in Wakefield, supported by a network of community services in the local area.
There would be no reduction in local NHS services.
Judith Young, chief executive of South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust said: ‘We want to continue to improve the care we offer and to provide the services that people have told us are important. To do this we need to change the way our services are organised, whilst still keeping services in the local area. The facilities we use at St Luke’s Hospital do not meet our current service requirements, and will not help us to make the improvements we want to. We need to invest in modern services and not unsuitable buildings and moving from St Luke’s would help us do this. We hope that many local people will take the opportunity to talk to us over the next few months and to give their views as part of the consultation. ‘
A document to support the consultation, which sets out the proposals in detail, will be widely distributed in local NHS services, for examples in doctors surgeries, in libraries and other public places. Copies of the document are available from the Patients Advice and liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 5872108. The information is also on the internet at www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk or www.calderdale-pct.nhs.uk.
A number of public meetings are being set up for next month as an opportunity for people to hear more about the proposals before they give their views.
The consultation will run from 10 October 2005 until 16 January 2006
Anyone who would like to find out more about the proposals should contact Bronwyn Gill on 01484 343376 or Malcolm Featherstone on 01934 327016.