Views sought on Airedale Hospital psychiatric unit proposals (From Craven Herald)

Views sought on Airedale Hospital psychiatric unit proposals

12:00pm Friday 10th February 2012 in Local news

A proposal to shift Airedale Hospital’s psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) to Bradford is among three recommendations being aired for public consultation.

People across Airedale, Craven and Bradford have been asked to respond to planned changes to mental health services provided at hospitals for adults and older people.

NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds Primary Care Trust says it wants to hear from as many people as possible about different options for improving the way it runs hospital mental health facilities.

The services are currently available at Airedale Centre for Mental Health and Ward 24 at Airedale Hospital. They include the PICU and provision for 18 to 65-year-old adults and people aged 65 and over.

Mental health services are also provided at Lynfield Mount Hospital, in Daisy Hill, Bradford.

The options are: * not to change the number of beds provided, but to make some minor changes in where they are located

* not to change the number of beds, but to move the PICU from Airedale to Lynfield Mount

* move the PICU to Lynfield Mount, while at the same time reducing the number of beds and making separate wards for “functional and organic illnesses”.

A spokesman said: “The proposals follow a review of in-patient mental health services by Bradford District Care Trust. The review highlighted that the trust could use its resources more effectively while improving the hospital environment and facilities.

“It also said hospital beds for older people were significantly under-used and that the savings made from improved use of resources could be better spent on other mental health services for older people.”

Mick James, mental health and learning disabilities commissioner at the NHS trust, said: “All NHS services must be high quality and clinically effective, but value for money is also important.

“Modern mental health services are more likely to be provided at home or near to places where people live. This means hospital services are not used as much as they were in the past, so it is important to review how and where services are being provided.”

Full details of the plans can be found at bradford. nhs.uk/get-involved/current-consultations/.

People can respond until April 26 by writing to Mental Health Services Review, FREEPOST RLZH-XTUZ-YAZK, Douglas Mill, Bowling Old Lane, Bradford BD5 7JR, e-mailing comments to consultation@bradford.nhs.uk, completing the reply form at bradford.nhs.uk/get-involved/current-consult ations/ or call the patient advice and liaison service on (01274) 237555.