NHS: Proposal to provide integrated physical and mental healthcare, closer to home
Date: Monday, July 14th 2014
Categories: All Leicestershire North West Leicestershire
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust is proposing to enhance care for older people, which would lead to patients being treated closer to home and having all their care needs met in one place.
Patients using the Trust's community hospitals across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are predominantly frail older people. With an ageing population and an increasing number of people being diagnosed with mental health conditions such as dementia or depression, more people are being admitted to wards with both physical and mental health needs.
To provide the best possible care for these patients, the Trust is proposing to improve integrated physical and mental health care, with the introduction of a specialist mental health team to work alongside nursing and medical staff in community hospitals.
If the proposal goes ahead, it will result in a change for Ward 4 at Coalville Community Hospital. People from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are currently admitted as inpatients to the ward, which provides a 'step down' service from the Trust's mental health wards for older people. When patients no longer need intensive levels of care from wards at the Evington Centre and the Bennion Centre they may be admitted to Ward 4 to prepare them to return home, or to stay whilst waiting for a place in a care home.
The introduction of a specialist mental health team in all community hospitals would mean patients living outside Coalville and neighbouring areas would, in the future, and where appropriate, receive their care closer to home, in the community hospital close to where they live.
People living in Coalville and neighbouring areas would continue to be admitted to Coalville Community Hospital and would continue to receive their care close to home. As with other community hospital wards, Wards 1 and 2 at Coalville would receive the support of the specialist mental health team and benefit from integrated support and the improved assessment, treatment and care this would bring.
Ward 4 at Coalville Community Hospital would no longer need to admit patients and the ward would be out of use temporarily until a decision is made regarding how this facility could be used in the future.
If the plans go ahead, the Trust expect the changes to take effect from October 2014.
The Trust welcomes your views and comments. Please click here to find out more about the proposal and complete a short questionnaire
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