HEALTH MATTERS
AS a local GP, I’m delighted that plans have been approved to improve the care of more than 7,000 people who need support every year with serious, long-term mental health problems.
Enhanced community services will include a new dementia outreach service and 24/7 crisis care, alongside modern inpatient facilities.
Our new care model is in line with the new Long Term Plan for the NHS. It said that care should focus more on prevention, providing support in a crisis, and offering much better community support.
I’m grateful to the many people who contributed to the new model of care. As a GP with an interest in mental health, I am passionate about getting the right care for my patients. This new model of care sets the foundation for that.
I’m encouraged that our approach to engagement was recognised by Cheshire East Council’s health scrutiny committee last month. Councillors confirmed due process had been followed throughout the additional one month consultation on the move of 13 rehabilitation patients from Lime Walk House in Macclesfield to Bowmere Hospital in Chester and the previous three-month consultation.
The new model will provide:
Improved community mental health teams, with 30 more staff.
Improved crisis home treatment teams, with eight more staff.
A new dementia outreach service to support people in their homes and care homes.
26 specialist inpatient beds at Lime Walk House in Macclesfield for adults and older people with serious mental ill health (plus four complex/ intensive care beds in Chester and an extra three beds in Wirral).
15 specialist inpatient beds in Macclesfield for people with dementia (based on the Macclesfield District General Hospital site).
Six community-based crisis beds, in locations to be determined in partnership with service users.
13 rehabilitation beds in Chester.
The inpatient beds in the Millbrook Unit on the Macclesfield Hospital site will be re-provided and replaced by 47 local beds designed to the latest modern standards, meeting privacy and dignity requirements set out by the Care Quality Commission.
Together with the enhanced local community support, a further seven beds for people with very complex needs – bringing the total re-provided beds to 54 – will be provided in Chester and Wirral. This approach is in line with current arrangements.