Review of county mental health services

Mental health services in West Sussex are to be reviewed to help improve community servicesandthequalityofnhs accommodation.

In a joint statement last week, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups said they were considering ways to improvementalhealthservices 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 is set to include two wards at the Harold Kidd Unit and Oaklands Ward, both in Chichester, one ward at Horshamhospital,threewards at Langley Green Hospital, Crawley, three wards at Meadowfield Hospital and one ward at The Burrowes – both at theswandeansiteinworthing.

A public consultation on proposals, which have not yet been decided, is due to be held later in the year.

A spokesman for the Trust and CCG said: “This work is being driven by a number of key principles.

“First, there is ever increasing pressure on mental health services, both nationally and locally. We wanttostrengthencommunity services to enable people to receive more care and support at home, avoiding hospital admission unless it is absolutely necessary.

“On top of this, some of our Nhsbuildings–likemanynhs buildings across the country – are very old and require significant work to bring them up to modern standards.

“Weneedtoexplorehowwe canbestmeetthesechallenges while continuing to provide patients with the highest quality care.

“We also need to comply with national guidance on eliminating mixed sex wards. Both of these will give patients the safety, privacy and dignity they deserve.”