
Improving Mental Health Services
In March 2010, NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother, in partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, published proposals for making changes to mental health services for adults in East Sussex.
The proposals centred around getting the right balance between hospital-based inpatient mental health care and services provided outside hospital in the community.
The proposed changes fell into three areas
- Further development of community mental health services, including the introduction of specific commitments about the care service users and their carers can expect
- A reduction in inpatient beds within units in East Sussex over a period of 12-18 months and 3 options for how the remaining beds were organised
- Further reduction in inpatient beds over the following 3-5 years and reprovision of these beds in a new unit or units in East Sussex
A public consultation was undertaken between 8th March and 8th June 2010 and, as this was a significant proposal for change, HOSC was also consulted.
HOSC produced a final report on the proposals in July 2010. The NHS organisations responded to the report and its recommendations at the HOSC meeting in September 2010.
HOSC is continuing to monitor progress with the implementation of the changes. The original Committee Task Group which investigated the proposals reconvened in February 2011 and HOSC will receive a report assessing progress at its meeting on the 10th March 2010.
If you would like a paper copy of any of the reports mentioned above sent to you, or have any queries about this project, please email:
healthscrutiny@eastsussex.gov.uk
Or contact Claire Lee, Scrutiny Lead Officer on 01273 481327