Weavers Croft: the final stage of consultation

Yesterday one of the Council meetings I attended was on the "Consultation on the 'Later life' public service agreement". I caught the end of a session with staff and then joined representatives of various older peoples groups like from Sheltered Accommodation - all councillors had been invited but I was the only one to attend - it is very difficult especially if councillors are working - the number of meetings we get invited to could sometimes fill a weeks diary several times over.....

Photo: Last years march to prevent health cuts

....anyhow it was very good to hear the voices of older people clearly saying they want more done on pensioner poverty and their voice heard properly. Having been involved not so long ago in interviewing people re Cainscross Parish Plan I was able to chip in and reinforce several issues that were raised - particularly fuel poverty - better insulation/energy efficiency etc not only helps prevent hypothermia, it also reduces bills and tackles climate change - win, win, win! I also raised the issue about the importance of local services....but I wont use this blog on all that I really wanted to talk about Weavers Croft.

Background

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 - I've enclosed my submission below.

Previous blog entries on this topic include: Most recent update on health cuts: 30th April 2007, A Social enterprise for local health services: 15th November 2006, Previous consultations: 10th and 19th August 2006 and Previous Weavers Croft submission: 14th July 2006 and 23rd May 2006.

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.

My submission to IRP

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