CABINET SECRETARY APPROVES MENTAL HEALTH PROPOSALS FOR ARGYLL AND BUTE

On 12 January 2009 NHS Highland launched its formal public consultation on proposals for change to adult mental health services in Argyll and Bute. This consultation outlined five service options and followed on from extensive work on reviewing mental health services involving many local service users, carers, NHS staff as well as staff from Argyll and Bute Council.

Following the end of the consultation on 10 April Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership (CHP) identified Option 4 as the preferred option and this recommendation was made to the Board of NHS Highland on 2 June 2009 where members of the Board backed the recommendation.

As part of the overall consultation process the proposals were then submitted to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing for approval and this has now been given by the Minister. Argyll & Bute CHP can now therefore formally commence the implementation and delivery of the preferred option.

Bill Brackenridge, Chairman of Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership said:

“Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership worked closely with our colleagues in Argyll and Bute Council to review and modernise our adult mental health services.

“Throughout the pre planning stage and the formal consultation we also worked closely with service users, carers, staff and our local communities in the development of the various options.

“I am now delighted that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has given us formal approval to move forward with the implementation of our proposals. This is good news for service users, carers and staff.

“We will now be starting work on the implementation and delivery of the preferred option and it is anticipated that this will be completed by September 2012.

“Finally, I would thank everyone who took part in the consultation and would like to highlight that Argyll & Bute CHP will continue to work with staff, service users, carers and our local communities as we move forward with our plans.”

Notes for Editors: The main details of Option 4 are as follows:

• More support for self-help and voluntary organisations
• New primary care service to support GPs
• Enhanced community teams integrated with Social Work services
• Crisis response capability in the community and assertive outreach
• Specialist Day Assessment & Treatment Service, including education centre
• A purpose built modern in-patient facility in Lochgilphead (to replace Argyll & Bute Hospital) consisting of;
• 20-26 Acute/Rehabilitation beds
• 6 Intensive psychiatric care unit beds
• 10 Dementia Assessment beds
• 20 Dementia Continuing care beds (in Mid Argyll Hospital)