Consultation on the provision of inpatient mental health services for adults in south east Staffordshire

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) yesterday (Thursday 19 January) gave the go-ahead for plans for the provision of inpatient mental health services for adults in south and east Staffordshire to go to public consultation.

Since 2019, the Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) and the ICB along with other partners have been exploring proposals for long-term service provision for the services previously provided by the George Bryan Centre in Tamworth which was destroyed in a fire.

No decisions have yet been made, and the public, patients, their families and anyone else with an interest in these services can give their feedback in a six-week public consultation starting on or before Thursday 9 February.

The consultation will ask people to give their views on a proposal which would mean patients who need inpatient treatment would be admitted to St George’s Hospital in Stafford. This is for adults of any age experiencing a severe mental illness or dementia, who need intensive medical supervision and treatment in hospital.

Wherever possible, patients are already and will continue to be treated at home, supported by the enhanced community mental health services and there are distinct enhanced services for adults of any age with a severe mental illness and for the population with dementia.

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, the Chief Medical Officer for the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, said: “The ICB Board met today to discuss the proposals, and following discussion, agreed that a consultation can proceed. There will be a number of ways local people can share their views, either in writing or face-to-face and more details will be provided as soon as possible.

“I can assure everyone that no final decision has been made, and the feedback gathered during the consultation will be a part of the evidence used by the board when we do.”

The ICB Board’s approval to move to consultation comes following NHSE’s assurance process (see Notes to Editors).

The purpose of the consultation will be to:

• build on previous involvement activity since 2019, to identify the long-term solution for inpatient mental health services in south east Staffordshire
• understand if there is any new or addition information that should be taken into consideration ahead of decision making
• ensure everyone who wants to is able to participate in the involvement activity, and they have the opportunity to provide their views
• understand if there is any positive or negative impact we need to plan for, if we decide to go ahead with the proposal
• understand if there are any alternative suggestions which have not already been considered ahead of decision making.

You can find out more about the proposals and access the board papers board papers on the ICB website.