Flaxington
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2008
- Messages
- 92
- Reaction score
- 112
Pleasent 10 hours explore around the site with Imortal Owl, topped off with a drive around the live bit afterwards.
I found quite a few documents and news letters strewn about the place, I took some photos of some interesting articles, I've transcribed the first one. It gives some historical background to the hospital. I think the first one is from the mid-1980s.
Pattern of services for the mentally ill (SWRTHA)
Consultation
These comments were compiled following formal discussion with senior nursing staff and informal discussion with various individual nursing staff. The views of the nursing staff have also been forwarded to the unit management team, Nursing and Midwives Advisory Committee and also through various staff organisations.
Resource Planning/Patients Secondary
The consultation document has attempted to tackle the complex question of the psychiatric service for the whole region. It is acknowledged by staff that patients in all Health Authorities should be provided with an appropriate and fair service but the emphasis in the document is on resource planning with patient needs as a secondary consideration.
Local service/Time scale
The establishment of a locally based service has general support and in the direction that many Health Authorities have already moved towards. The time scale of the shift towards institutions is important so that proper rehabilitation programmes can be put into operation. The document proposes that the closure of the big mental hospitals will provide and could force some Health Authorities to rush into an unrealistic programme of implementation.
Effects on community and patients
No consideration is given in the document to the effect on local residents and the community at large if there is a sudden exodus of long term psychiatric patients. So not only would the patients suffer but also the community.
Back up services
Experience has shown that with even careful planning without the pressure for an exodus of patients the need for a back-up service has been evident.
There is a need for a “centre of excellence” where patients can return. This needs to be well staffed and have facilities to deal with patients who do not settle in the community or are unsuitable for the community. This “centre” is also required for staff training and in particular for nurses to gain experience necessary to work in the diverse facilities in the community.
Elderly mentally Ill
Many of the patients in the long stay hospitals are elderly and the document does not give thought to this. This group will always be demanding on nursing/care staff, and fragmenting the residential service would certainly be no cheaper and in fact be more expensive.
Over a number of years the facilities for geriatric patients (not mentally ill) has expanded on the West Park site. Smaller hospitals have closed and a new day hospital built for our local geriatric patients to attend.
Sale of Land
The money available from the sale of land will not be available for ever and we are concerned by the number of broad sweeping statements in the document which does not reassure staff that Mid-Surrey will benefit fully by this proposed sale.
Uncertainty
The uncertainty in this report has caused some voluntary services to wonder what is happening. On one hand they read the proposal to close West Park and sell the land on the other hand considerable amounts of money have been spent in providing geriatric services and much needed services for the health authority on the site.
District Service
Broad sweeping statements were mentioned earlier. In the document each health authority has not been looked at in detail enough. What will happen with the district service if the site is closed and sold? The West Park site provides a district base for many other functions including District Headquarters, Personnel and Finance departments, Community Health, Laundry, Gardens, Pathology service, Transport and some supplies and works. These would have to be provided elsewhere.
Catchment area
Another important point that the document does not acknowledge is that West Park Hospital unlike many others in the “Epsom cluster” is central within its own catchment area. Many of the patients already attend their local (West Park) hospital on a daily basis.
Shift to the community
Many of the above comments appear negative but the whole team with active nursing input have always reviewed the use of resources and there has been and will continue to be an accepted shift towards community.
RW Richens
Director of Nursing Services (mental illness)
Mid-Surrey Health Authority
I'll transcribe some more when I get time, If anybody is interested.
I found quite a few documents and news letters strewn about the place, I took some photos of some interesting articles, I've transcribed the first one. It gives some historical background to the hospital. I think the first one is from the mid-1980s.
Pattern of services for the mentally ill (SWRTHA)
Consultation
These comments were compiled following formal discussion with senior nursing staff and informal discussion with various individual nursing staff. The views of the nursing staff have also been forwarded to the unit management team, Nursing and Midwives Advisory Committee and also through various staff organisations.
Resource Planning/Patients Secondary
The consultation document has attempted to tackle the complex question of the psychiatric service for the whole region. It is acknowledged by staff that patients in all Health Authorities should be provided with an appropriate and fair service but the emphasis in the document is on resource planning with patient needs as a secondary consideration.
Local service/Time scale
The establishment of a locally based service has general support and in the direction that many Health Authorities have already moved towards. The time scale of the shift towards institutions is important so that proper rehabilitation programmes can be put into operation. The document proposes that the closure of the big mental hospitals will provide and could force some Health Authorities to rush into an unrealistic programme of implementation.
Effects on community and patients
No consideration is given in the document to the effect on local residents and the community at large if there is a sudden exodus of long term psychiatric patients. So not only would the patients suffer but also the community.
Back up services
Experience has shown that with even careful planning without the pressure for an exodus of patients the need for a back-up service has been evident.
There is a need for a “centre of excellence” where patients can return. This needs to be well staffed and have facilities to deal with patients who do not settle in the community or are unsuitable for the community. This “centre” is also required for staff training and in particular for nurses to gain experience necessary to work in the diverse facilities in the community.
Elderly mentally Ill
Many of the patients in the long stay hospitals are elderly and the document does not give thought to this. This group will always be demanding on nursing/care staff, and fragmenting the residential service would certainly be no cheaper and in fact be more expensive.
Over a number of years the facilities for geriatric patients (not mentally ill) has expanded on the West Park site. Smaller hospitals have closed and a new day hospital built for our local geriatric patients to attend.
Sale of Land
The money available from the sale of land will not be available for ever and we are concerned by the number of broad sweeping statements in the document which does not reassure staff that Mid-Surrey will benefit fully by this proposed sale.
Uncertainty
The uncertainty in this report has caused some voluntary services to wonder what is happening. On one hand they read the proposal to close West Park and sell the land on the other hand considerable amounts of money have been spent in providing geriatric services and much needed services for the health authority on the site.
District Service
Broad sweeping statements were mentioned earlier. In the document each health authority has not been looked at in detail enough. What will happen with the district service if the site is closed and sold? The West Park site provides a district base for many other functions including District Headquarters, Personnel and Finance departments, Community Health, Laundry, Gardens, Pathology service, Transport and some supplies and works. These would have to be provided elsewhere.
Catchment area
Another important point that the document does not acknowledge is that West Park Hospital unlike many others in the “Epsom cluster” is central within its own catchment area. Many of the patients already attend their local (West Park) hospital on a daily basis.
Shift to the community
Many of the above comments appear negative but the whole team with active nursing input have always reviewed the use of resources and there has been and will continue to be an accepted shift towards community.
RW Richens
Director of Nursing Services (mental illness)
Mid-Surrey Health Authority
I'll transcribe some more when I get time, If anybody is interested.