Agenda item

The report provides a written update on the Gordon Hospital inpatient wards and CNWL’s mental health provision for Westminster.

5.1       The Committee received a written report from Ela Pathak-Sen (Director of Mental Health Services in CNWL), Graham Behr (CNWL, Consultant Psychiatrist) and Anne Sheridan, (CNWL, Consultant) who provided a short verbal update on the temporary continuing closure of the in-patient wards at the Gordon Hospital.

5.2       The Committee discussed the following topics in detail:

•           the pressure facing Mental Health services;

•           outcomes from the Voice Exchange Project;

•           the impact of the hospital’s continuing closure on Westminster;

•           the number of consultants recruited;

•           the numbers of patients being treated outside of Westminster; the rise in unwell people across Central North-West London and the number of compulsory admissions to in-patient units; and

•           the increase in admissions under the Mental Health Act.

5.3       Concerning the increase in admissions under the Mental Health Act, the Committee was informed that the Community Mental Health teams were under immense pressure and patients were being released before they were well.  The Committee queried if the money from the closure should be invested in Mental Health Services as there were not enough resources.  Responding to the question, Graham Behr advised the Committee that investing in community resources was the right direction and that there had been a change in the model, where access had been widened by incorporating primary health care serves in to the “one stop shop” model.  He stated that this allowed higher interface and interaction with GPs to support managing people as soon as interventions had been completed.

5.4       The Committee sought further clarification on the Voice Exchange project and whether it was entirely staff orientated.  The Committee also wanted further information on the treatment and care.  Responding to the query raised, Ela Pathak-Sen advised the Committee that whilst the report was not yet published, those who participated in the project had very much appreciated the work that staff had done for them, however for them to be able to receive better and more compassionate care, staff members needed to be cared for better.  She added that service users also wanted to be more involved in decision making.

5.5       The Committee noted the letter which had been received in relation to staff experiences which was shared with partners.  The Committee sought clarification on why people were re-admitted to mental health services.  Mr Graham Behr advised that when looking at data across all the boroughs the biggest cause for readmission was drug use.  He informed the Committee that investments in Westminster had been directed to supporting young men in particular, however it was not an issue that they had the answers to immediately.  The Committee noted earlier comments with regard to funding from the closure of the Gordon Hospital going into mental health care, however, but doubted that the finances were organised in that way. 

5.6       The Committee noted that, during its round table discussions with Clare Murdoch, she remarked that the CQC report had found the Gordon Hospital to be unsatisfactory and stated that it must be invested in.  The CQC assessment had not concluded that the Gordon Hospital must be closed.  The Committee advised that, during the site visits to both the Gordon and St Charles Hospitals, on speaking to service users, they had not found the St Charles Hospital to be satisfactory and could not wait for the Gordon Hospital to be reopened.

5.7       The Committee stated that it was important to know what the economic impact had been on Westminster and how much had been saved each year of the Gordon Hospital’s closure.  The Committee noted that this had included the loss of jobs as well as care in Westminster and asked that CNWL come back to the Committee with that information. 

5.8       The Committee welcomed the mental health services working within GP practices and sought clarification on the number of GP practices that currently had Mental Health practitioners.  Graham Behr stated that there were over 50 surgeries but was unable to give the exact figures.  He advised the Committee that they were rolling out additional remunerated roles, with band 7 workers attached to every surgery in Westminster. 

5.9       The Committee also the sought the number of consultants that had been recruited to GP surgeries.

5.10     The Committee sought further clarification of the community settings raised in the paper. Ela Pathak-Sen felt that in the next paper to the Committee it would be useful to discuss the pathways.  She stated that the other community settings were provided by the voluntary sector, including ‘Step Down beds’ and working with the British Red Cross.  Ela Pathak Sen also advised the Committee of the future launch of the ‘Crisis House’ to help avoid admission and the involvement of communities which would support the destigmatision of Mental Health.

5.11     The Committee discussed the figures relating to patients treated out of the borough and sought further clarification on the data, including the 9% of patients receiving care out of area and the connections they had to Westminster i.e., how many were residents or had family in the City. 

5.12     The Committee noted that it continued to be concerned about the closure of the Gordon Hospital and looked forward to the consultation, now scheduled for the period after the local elections.  The Chairman confirmed that next update would be in March

5.13     RESOLVED: that the Committee note the update report on the closure of the Gordon Hospital.

The Committee Requested:

•           Data on the economic impact on Westminster and how much had been saved each year of the Gordon Hospital’s closure.  including the loss of jobs.

•           The number of consultants that had been recruited to GP surgeries.

•           Further clarification on the data, including the 9% of patients receiving care out of area and the connections they had to Westminster i.e., how many were residents or had family in the city.