Mental health bed move fear
Friends who have received mental health support share their fears for other patients over plans to move beds from wards in Chichester.
Mental health patients have spoken of their despair at plans to relocate beds currently based in Chichester to Worthing and Crawley.
In February, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups said they were considering ways to improve mental health services for adults and older people in West Sussex. As part of that work, the county must also comply with national guidance on eliminating mixed sex wards.
The review includes two wards at the Harold Kidd Unit and Oaklands Ward, both in Chichester, one ward at Horsham Hospital, three wards at Langley Green Hospital, Crawley, three wards at Meadowfield Hospital and one ward at The Burrowes – both in Worthing.
Ford resident Tracey Horne, 50, who has recently been discharged from the mixed sex Oaklands ward in Graylingwell, said: “I was treated at the ward for a while and it helped me survive when I didn’t want to live.
“There was not a problem with it at all. The thought of being sent somewhere where no one could see me is scary. You are losing the continuity with your GP and local community service.
“If I was told I was going to be sent to Crawley, I would have ended my life.”
Tracey is now fearing what repercussions there might be if patients are moved ‘miles away from home’.
“There are a lot of young people who need support, they are so vulnerable,” she said.
“If they don’t get that continuity of support it can have a huge impact on their mental health. Being close to home and having regular support helped me. The team there were able to take me home and make me feel safe.
“They haven’t thought about that for people if they are moved miles away. It would disorientate people and make the situation worse when the experience is already traumatic. I fear for the future.”
Friend and fellow Oaklands ward patient Lauren Dougan, 31, who lives with her three children in Bognor, added: “Oaklands has helped me every time I have been there, which is two or three times, although, at one stage, I did have to go all the way to Hastings. It was too far away and it did not allow me to get to places with my children.
“Oaklands is one of the good hospitals and if they start tampering with it, it just won’t be the same. It would put me off going to A&E. The process is so stressful. I would avoid support all together.”
Sussex Partnership Trust chief executive Sam Allen stressed that no final decisions have been made and encouraged everyone to take part in the consultation, which ends on October 11.
Anyone affected by this article, or who needs support, can speak to the Samaritans – free and at any time – by calling 116 123. Or visit www. samaritans.org.