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GREEN SUPPORT FOR WEAVERS CROFT |
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 26th July 2007
Greens write to Panel looking at Weavers Croft - see their letter and comments
Photo: march last year to protect our local health services
Controversial plans to move mental health beds out of Stroud, Gloucester and Cinderford are now under review by an independent group of medical experts who will then advise Health Minister Patricia Hewitt on their findings. The Secretary of State has asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) to provide advice about existing plans to centralise facilities for older people's mental health to just one site at Charlton Lane in Cheltenham. This would mean inpatient beds at Weavers Croft in Stroud, Colliers Court in Cinderford and Holly House in Gloucester would all close.
The Panel are seeking new evidence about the services or information from those who feel that their voice has not been heard through the original consultation process.
Martin Whiteside the Green party's Parliamentary spokesperson for Stroud and a local District councillor said: "To me the very fact that this proposal to close Weavers Croft was not thrown out originally is a strong indication that voices of our community have not been heard. Last year there was uproar in these valleys at the proposed health cuts: over 9,000 objections, an astonishing 3000 people marched in Stroud and there was cross-party support locally to retain these services."
Martin Whiteside said: "I am sure the Panel has heard clearly the extent of our communities feeling on this, but just to make sure I and the local Green party have sent letters to them (i) reiterating the clear case against closing Weavers Croft. I am appalled at the narrow costing basis under which the closure of Weavers Croft was being considered. There seemed to be no consideration of the importance of people being able to visit loved ones - a move to Cheltenham would make that impossible for many. With an ageing population the need for local provision such as Weavers Croft will rise, not fall, therefore closure is a stupid short-term measure. Is this a NHS that sees the wider picture of SERVICE to the vulnerable elderly community or one which looks at isolated 'bean counting'? Weavers Croft must not be allowed to close."
How to make your thoughts know?
The panel is asking anybody who has new evidence about the services or who feel that their voice has not been heard should not hesitate to get contact them. Anyone who would like to contact the panel and share their views before 9th July can call 01823 344 430 or e-mail <irp@southwest.nhs.uk>. Also write to IRP, Strategic Development, NHS Southwest, Wellsprings Road, Taunton, TA2 7PQ. Their final report with all its recommendations will be published on July 27 so comments need to reach them by mid-July at the latest. The final decision on changes to the services in Gloucestershire will be made by the Health Minister.
Notes:
(i) Stroud District Green party submission:
Date: 25th June 2007
Re: the Independent Reconfiguration Panel consideration of plans to centralise facilities for older people's mental health in Cheltenham.
We understand that the Panel is particularly seeking new evidence about the services or information from those who feel that their voice has not been heard through the original consultation process. However the very fact that this proposal to close Weavers Croft was not thrown out originally is a strong indication that voices of our community have not been heard.
Last year there was uproar in these valleys at the proposed health cuts. You will be aware there were over 9,000 objections and an astonishing 3000 people marched in Stroud. Many more were appalled by the proposed cuts. We welcome news that Stroud Maternity Hospital is safe at the moment but are deeply concerned by the on-going threat to Weavers Croft. Closure of this service would be a serious mistake.
One of the most fundamental needs of an older person with a mental illness is the need to be in contact with familiar people, situations and places to reduce anxiety and increase the sense of wellbeing. To transfer the care of these older people away from their communities would be fundamentally wrong.
We know only too well that the proposed site is impossible to visit without a car from some places in the District and even from Stroud it requires three bus journeys. A lot of elderly people don’t like to drive out of their immediate vicinity or don't have access to a car. There appears to be only very poor consideration of those alternatives and what costs they might entail to individuals and the environment. The impact on climate change and the forecast considerable oil price rises in coming years appear to not have been given serious consideration at all: both these factors mean we should be developing local not centralised services.
Older or disabled carers will be far less able to visit: some maybe unable to manage the journey at all let alone on a regular basis. Fewer visits will impact detrimentally on the elderly person receiving services. For example carers sometimes help feed or just be with the patients: such benefits to the patient of a caring known person cannot be underestimated.
Information on financial savings is also poor with little or no assessment of the impact of these proposals on other bodies or service users. Costs do not for example seem to have been calculated for withdrawing services like day care, the additional transport, restructuring and more. There also does not seem to have been a proper analysis of costs longer term: for the over 65 year old age group for Stroud District is expected to increase over the next 20 years from the estimate for this year of 20,000 to 29,000 in 2026. This will lead to a significant increase in the number of people with problems like dementia.
The services at Weavers Croft are recognised locally as being excellent and are adjacent to other health services where additional support can be gained if needed. The proposed centralising of these services in Cheltenham goes against Government policy outlined in the White Paper "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say" published in January 2006, which has the clear vision of locating services within local communities and engaging with the people of those communities to ascertain their needs and wishes.
In short the case for closing Weavers Croft has not been made. I strongly urge that it remains open for both inpatient and day care services.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Philip Booth on behalf of Stroud District Green party
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