Agenda item

Bev Searle, Director of Joint Commissioning, NHS Berkshire outlined a report to provide an update on the additional work agreed by NHS Berkshire and Berkshire Health NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) in July, to inform decision making on the future of Mental Health Inpatient Services for East Berkshire.  The Panel was advised that a decision had been taken to undertake a further period of engagement due to the fact that no clear consensus had emerged on the way forward and significant concerns had been raised by key stakeholders about some of the options.  Ms Searle discussed the background to the options for the future provision of Mental Health inpatient Services for East Berkshire and the options considered within the consultation process undertaken between August and November 2010.  The Panel noted the additional work undertaken to date regarding clinical engagement and review, engagement with stakeholders and the review of inpatient service development proposals in other areas.  Ms Searle summarised further work planned which included the conclusion of clinical engagement work and consideration of progress to-date by the East Berkshire Clinical Executive Group in September, completion of Gateway review and engagement with LINks and Carer Groups. 

The Panel noted a letter which had been tabled by John Kelly, LINks who felt that there had to be an East Berkshire option and that Upton Hospital or St Marks could provide that.  In the ensuing discussion a number of questions and comments were raised including a request for more clarification on how this consultation was different to the first one.  Ms Searle advised that it was realised that there was no consensus and more engagement work was needed.  It was a requirement that any change would require the approval of clinician groups and satisfactory engagement with stakeholders.  There had been significant concerns in this area and these were being incorporated in feedback provided.  It was clear that this was a challenging decision to make and the outcome would be unlikely have the full agreement of all parties.  It was confirmed that Berkshire Health Care Trust had conducted the original consultation and the Berkshire Cluster would now conduct the exercise which was one of engagement rather than consultation.  Ms Searle confirmed that it was not the case that the original consultation was carried out incorrectly but rather a reflection of what a difficult task this was.  A Member asked whether it was correct that offices within Prospect Park Hospital would require conversion to Wards.  Philippa Slinger, Chief Executive, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, confirmed that it would be necessary to change the configuration of the building.  She also confirmed that the Trust had no power to make any changes to Wexham Park Hospital as they did not own the premises.  Prospect Park Hospital was in ownership of the Trust and it was likely that some areas would be converted and that Reading Mental Health Team could be re-vacated as they did not need to be in the building.  A Member questioned what would happen if Prospect Park Hospital did not receive the £4.9m necessary and Ms Slinger advised that Prospect Park did not need this money as this was capital money the Trust had been collecting to spend on improving in-patients services in the East of Berkshire. In response to a further question regarding the position of GPs in Slough, Ms Searle advised that work was being undertaken with GPs to make sure that they had explored the outcomes themselves. 

Resolved -   That the report be noted and that an update report be submitted to the Panel on 8^th December, 2011.