Issue - meetings

To consider a report on proposed changes to mental health services.

The Committee considered a report on proposed changes to services provided by the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Trust NHS Foundation Trust (CWP).  As a result of changes to the way that some mental health services were funded, the PCT had identified a shortfall of £1.4 million in its budget to commission mental health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services.  CWP and the PCT had worked together over a number of months to develop a prioritisation tool to use to review all services.  This had resulted in three proposals:

      CWP would no longer provide social support services at The Willows day centre in Macclesfield.  All service users were already cared for by community mental health teams and would be assessed and supported to use alternative day services through mainstream facilities such as colleges and local authority run schemes;

      CWP would no longer run learning disability respite care services from Riseley Street in Macclesfield; service users requiring this respite care would receive it from Crook Lane, Winsford.   The service at Riseley Street was currently under occupied;

      CWP would redesign the PCT’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service to make it more efficient, with no adverse impact on care for patients.

The proposals were supported by GP commissioners through the Commissioning Executive and patients and the public had been involved through the project board for the prioritisation process, which included representation from service user and carer groups.  Further consultation would be undertaken. 

Members noted that the proposals relating to Riseley Street and The Willows would have implications for social care provision, including because alternative provision at Crook Lane was in Cheshire West and Chester.  It was important to look at all provision, both health and social care, as a whole, as changes in one area would often impact on another area.  It was also noted that patients and carers accessing services at Crook Lane instead of Macclesfield may have transport issues.

The Committee also commended CWP whose services had recently been judged as excellent by The Royal College of Psychiatrists' Psychiatric Liaison Accreditation Network (PLAN) who had rated their services as among the best in the country.

RESOLVED:  that

(a) the proposed changes to Riseley Street and The Willows, Macclesfield be noted and  confirmed as Level 2 changes and as such should be consulted upon with patients, carers, staff and the Local Involvement Network; and

(b) the proposed changes to the Primary Care Trust’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service, to make it more efficient, be noted and no consultation be required as service delivery will not be affected.