Agenda item

Representatives of NTW NHS FT will provide the OSC with a verbal update.

Colleagues from NTW NHS FT attended the meeting and provided a verbal update to Committee, outlining the proposals for progressing the move from the Tranwell Unit to the Hadrian Clinic (and St Nicholas Hospital as required) in Newcastle ahead of the full development of the St Nicholas site.

The presentation outlined the rationale for the proposals (given that the temporary  measure of relocating to the Hadrian Clinic was not part of the original proposals for Deciding Together and the previous commitment that the Tranwell would not close until Community Services were in place) and the proposed timeline.

The Committee were advised that the key issues facing NTW NHS FT are:-

·         NTW NHS FT are facing big financial issues – in relation to the availability of wider NHS capital funding.

·         The redesign of community mental health services has been a time consuming process but it is essential that the model and arrangements that emerge are fit for purpose and prevent admissions to in patient care going forwards otherwise the system as a whole will struggle to meet needs.

·         NTW has now clarified its future direction.

·         NTW has submitted a £50 million bid to redevelop its secure services on a single site – this would include the development of adult acute services for Newcastle and Gateshead on the St Nicholas Site in Newcastle. There is a funding pot of £220 million capital available and bids to the value of £700 million have been submitted but NTW bid has been shortlisted.

·         NTW has indicated that it is critical to their strategy for their secure services that the redevelopment plans go ahead so if they are unsuccessful in their bid they will be exploring financing via new private/public partnership.

·         NTW confirmed that this is not about privatisation of NHS care.

·         Timeline for proposals is 2021 in terms of development of St Nicholas Site

·         In meantime there is a recognition that the facilities at the Tranwell site are not fit for purpose and from a quality of care and staffing perspective things are becoming increasingly difficult.

·         As a result it is proposed that, on an interim basis, Gateshead and Newcastle mental health wards are consolidated at the Newcastle General Hospital Site and facilities are refurbished at that site. £1 million has been set aside for this refurbishment to improve the in-patient facilities.

·         Centralising the improved facilities on the Newcastle General Hospital Site will make a significant difference in terms of managing in-patients safely and will provide better outcomes for Gateshead service users and carers.

·         Currently acute in patient provision for Gateshead residents at the Tranwell Unit consists of 20 beds in the Fellside ward and 18 Beds in the Lamesley Ward (this does not equate to the numbers of Gateshead service users overall as there are some Gateshead service users in other wards, and there may be people who are not Gateshead residents on the wards at Tranwell)

·         In terms of meeting Newcastle/Gateshead’s acute in-patient needs – the longer term strategy is to move to three wards BUT due to pressures on the system and fact that occupancy rates are currently high there will not be any moves at this stage to reduce the number of wards. The Trust has therefore identified a fourth ward on the St Nicholas Hospital Site for Newcastle/Gateshead service users. So far there have been a small number of bed reductions (5 male and 2 female).

·         The fourth ward on the St Nicholas Hospital Site will remain in place until community services are in place/it can be demonstrated that there is not a need for this provision.

·         Two rehabilitation centres will also still be available in the pathway – Elm House and the Willow Ward.

·         In terms of work moving forwards the Trust will be looking at the following areas:-

o   Gateshead Psychosis and Non-Psychosis pathway.

o   Home based treatments in a crisis situation to develop this approach further.

o   Carrying out further work to move towards an episodic model of care whereby clients go back to primary care/support vis the third sector after periods of treatment.

o   Embracing new ways of working e.g. nurse prescribing/peer support workers etc.

o   Progressing work to reduce occupancy rates and length of stay by standardising approaches.

o   Exploring longer term proposals relating to the provision of Newcastle/Gateshead Older People’s Services with the QE.

·         Gateshead Care Partnership has been identified as a really good platform to progress this work.

·         NTW have invited the OSC to visit the Newcastle General Hospital Site and be engaged around the proposals for refurbishing the site.

The Chair and Vice-Chair asked for formal confirmation on the following questions:-

·         The proposed transitional arrangements will lead to improved outcomes for Gateshead Service Users and Carers

·         In-patient provision for Gateshead residents will not be reduced until there is evidence that there is no need for this provision and appropriate community provisions is in place

·         OSC concerns around car parking at the Newcastle General Hospital Site will be addressed.

·         The longer term plan for acute in patient provision for Gateshead residents is for this service provision to be relocated onto a single site at St Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle

·         The OSC is formally consulted on any future proposals relating to potential changes to the provision of Gateshead Older People’s Services (as this area of service provision was not part of the original Deciding Together exercise)

·         The OSC be provided with further progress updates from NTW on the implementation of the transitional arrangements and progress towards the longer term plan of relocating Newcastle/Gateshead acute in-patient facilities onto the St Nicholas Site.

·         The OSC wished to formally accept the offer to visit the Newcastle General Hospital Site and be engaged in the plans for refurbishing the site.