The planned development of the new mental health hospital for Harrogate is to be put on hold while a thorough review of options for developing mental health service for adults and older people in the area is undertaken.
The decision was made by the Trust and NHS Harrogate and Rural District Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as a result of significant financial pressures across the local NHS.
Along with the CCG, we want to involve local people in developing options for the future.
These options will need to take into account the issues facing the local NHS such as the increasing demand for mental health services and the poor quality of the current inpatient environment in the Briary Wing in Harrogate District Hospital.
Amanda Bloor, chief officer of the CCG, said: “The local health system in Harrogate is facing a significant financial challenge.
“This year the CCG has a planned deficit of £6.5m. This means we need to make sure we review how all funding is spent and consider especially carefully any longer term investments.
“This is why, in partnership with our partners in Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, we need to identify good quality, long term, affordable and sustainable options, based on clinical evidence and best practice and we want to involve local people and mental health staff in developing those options.”
Brent Kilmurray, chief operating officer at TEWV, said: “We already know that people want to receive the care and support they need as close to home as possible.
“We now have the opportunity to work together to think about new models of care that support people to live fulfilling and meaningful lives in their community, irrespective of their symptoms or diagnosis.
“This means reducing dependency on beds, working with individuals to achieve the goals they set themselves and making sure that support is available when someone is experiencing a crisis.
“We will also need to make sure that when people need to spend time in hospital they have access to inpatient accommodation that supports 21st century mental health care.”
Amanda Bloor added: “Over the coming weeks and months we will be asking people to give us their views.
“We’ll provide more information very soon on how people can do that and I would encourage people to get involved.”