Agenda item

Report of the Director of Mental Health and Learning Disability, Durham Tees Valley Partnership and the Director of Operations County Durham and Darlington, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust

The Director of Mental Health & Learning Disability, Durham Tees Valley Partnership and Director of Operations County Durham and Darlington , Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust submitted a report (previously circulated) requesting that Members note the proposal to reprovide the inpatient rehabilitation and recovery unit from Primrose Lodge, Chester le Street to Shildon with a reduction from 15 to eight beds.

The submitted report stated that Primrose Lodge was a 15-bed stand-alone rehabilitation and recovery unit in Chester le Street and was leased from the Local Authority; that the service was commissioned for Darlington and County Durham residents; and the unit delivered supportive interventions to service users with often complex mental health needs.

Reference was made to Willow Ward, a 15 bed high dependency rehabilitation and recovery unit at West Park Hospital which provided support to more complex service users; and members noted the investment of £500k into the community rehabilitation team which would enable the expansion of the existing community service and offer more comprehensive support to a wider number of service users.

Members were informed that an options appraisal to identify the optimum model for community bed-based rehabilitation services had been carried out, which identified relocation to Shildon to be the preferred option. Details were provided of issues associated with Primrose Lodge; this building was deemed not fit for purpose as a modern mental health facility, requiring significant investment to address environmental limitations and safety risks associated with ligature points on the unit; and Members were provided with details of the TEWV owned vacant unit at Shildon.

Members noted that the Shildon unit would provide eight beds, which was a seven bed reduction based on the current provision, however access to the 15 rehabilitation beds at Willow Ward would remain unchanged; reference was made to the demand for inpatient provision, and the factors which had affected bed occupancy at Primrose Lodge; and that a reduction from 15 to eight beds was achievable, based on demand modelling work undertaken as part of the recent investment requirements for the development of the community service expansion.

Details were provided of the risk log and mitigation plan; that three improvement events had taken place to improve the rehabilitation service pathway, ensuring that pathways were needs led and individualised to support transition into community living; the new staffing model was outlined; and details provided in respect of access to community services and relocation of the workforce.

Members were informed of the range of engagement activities undertaken with stakeholders and were provided with the timescale for the reprovision of the inpatient unit, with the work required to move to Shildon anticipated to be completed by the end of March 2022.

Members were advised that an Implementation group would be established in January 2022, meeting fortnightly to review each patient and monitor progress towards discharge and to ensure a planned and safe transition to the new unit; and the group would oversee and determine the timing of the phased bed reductions.

IT WAS AGREED – (a) That the proposal to reprovide the inpatient rehabilitation and recovery unit form Primrose Lodge, Chester le Street to Shildon with a reduction from 15 to 8 beds, be noted.

(b) That an update be provided at a future meeting of this Scrutiny Committee on the outcome of the further targeted engagement process.