Calls have been made for a “cast-iron guarantee” on the future of dementia wards at hospitals in Dumbarton and Alexandria.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie made the demands, after being left concerned by a letter from West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership chief, Beth Culshaw, in which she said there are no “current” plans to close either Glenarn Ward at Dumbarton Joint Hospital or Fruin Ward at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) say they are committed to providing inpatient care in West Dunbartonshire, but wouldn’t specify if this was at the facilities in question.
Last year, Ms Baillie wrote to the HSCP, saying that she had been inundated with correspondence after raising concerns about the potential closure of the vital wards.
In December, an NHSGGC spokesman said: “There are no current plans to close Glenarn or the Fruin wards, which deliver important services to the local area.
“Any proposals regarding changes to services would be undertaken in line with national guidance and with the involvement of stakeholders.
“This ensures we’re able to hear anyone who may be impacted by any proposed changes and allows for open and transparent decision making throughout.”
Current and previous staff, as well as relatives of people who have been cared for at the units, were concerned that these services could be withdrawn with no adequate response from West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership to the reports.
Chief officer Beth Culshaw responded two months after Ms Baillie’s original letter asking for reassurance over the services, reiterating that there are no ‘current’ plans in place for a closure.
However Ms Culshaw added: “In order to continue to develop local provision of services we are actually looking to review the community support for older people with mental health problems to ensure that we are maximising their ability to remain at home for as long as possible.
“This will include engaging with the community and staff, and identifying gaps in services.
“Work will be undertaken to close these gaps and will ensure that West Dunbartonshire provides a quality support to this population.”
Ms Baillie has now raised concerns over the lack of a guarantee that services will remain at both hospitals in the long-term.
The Labour member said: “Any threat to local mental health services must be opposed. Dementia treatment is most effective when it is accessed close to the patient’s home and to hear that patients have already been referred elsewhere is extremely worrying.
“There has been no consultation with staff or patients on changes within the service. Any review must be robust and any changes need to be in the best interests of those who receive treatment.
“This cannot be a money saving exercise and a move towards further centralisation. We already know that doesn’t work.
“There needs to be a cast-iron guarantee that these wards remain open in the long-term to meet the demand, protect jobs and provide the treatment which is vital to those who need it.”
A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “There are a range of older people’s mental health services available in West Dunbartonshire. NHSGGC works closely with the Health and Social Care Partnership in the area to deliver a combination of community mental health services and inpatient wards.
“Older People’s Community Mental Health Teams (OPCMHT) work closely with patients, services users and families, and we know through those close ties that people would prefer to stay at home whenever possible and that by developing community support, we would be able to support people to remain in their own home or care home residence for longer.
“One of our fundamental aims is to provide person centred care, in the right place, across all of our services, and there are times when people have specialist needs and hospital admission is appropriate. As such, inpatient care will continue to be provided in West Dunbartonshire.
“However, while hospital is an important point of care for a number of individuals, we are keen to help patients to remain in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own home, with a close proximity to loved ones and their known local community, where it is clinically appropriate.”
