Agenda item

The Assistant Director Community and Housing Services briefly presented the report on the Motion on Notice – Referral to Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as follows:-

“That the Council asks Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust to reconsider the proposed closure of Hillcrest Ward in Redditch and the consequential transfer of all adult mental health inpatient treatment to the Elgar Unit at the Worcester Royal Acute Hospital site.”

As detailed in the report, the Motion on Notice was considered at the Council meeting held on 29th July 2024.  In making this referral to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Council had noted that the subject of Adult Mental Health Acute Inpatient and Rehabilitation Redesign had been discussed at the meeting of the Worcestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) held on 8th July 2024. Councillor D. Munro, the Council’s representative on HOSC had attended the meeting.

When this Motion was discussed at the Council meeting, the following was added to the start of the Motion:-

“Council asks the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise the proposals for Reconfiguration of Adult Mental Health Inpatient and Rehabilitation services.”

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Munro explained that he had proposed the Motion on Notice, following his attendance at the Worcestershire HOSC meeting held on 8^th May 2024, whereby discussions as detailed in the preamble above had taken place.

Councillor Munro stated that questions needed to be asked as to what was happening / going to happen.  Had the decision already been made to close Hill Crest Ward, which was another erosion of services in the Borough.  The nearest adult mental health services would be in Worcester or Hereford. A recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) review of mental health services was quite damaging.  The Council had no statutory powers to compel health bodies to attend meetings in order to provide evidence or to consider any recommendations the Council may make.  However, questions needed to be asked and residents of Redditch needed to be reassured that the Council would be asking questions, as follows:- 

·       Suitability of the building.  Were there structural issues with the building?

·       Was only the secure acute inpatient services closing?

·       Would outpatient services be retained at Hill Crest Ward?

·       Would Community Mental Health Services continue?

·       What acute adult mental health services would be provided for the residents of Redditch, who used or needed to access services?.

·       Were there staffing issues at Hill Crest Ward?

·       How would future Adult Mental Health Inpatient and Rehabilitation Services look / be funded for Redditch?

·       Where would the nearest secure facility be located for anyone sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983?

Whilst Members acknowledged that service delivery and organisational arrangements for the NHS Acute Health Trusts were out of the Council’s remit, Members agreed that questions should be asked; and that further information was needed. Members were of the opinion that no real consultation had taken place and people should be held accountable for reducing / cutting services in the Borough without any consultation.

Members were in agreement that a Task Group was not the best way forward and that the quickest way to achieve answers would be to invite the Chair of Worcestershire HOSC and the relevant representative(s) from Hereford and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust to a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; with regards to questions being asked on the future of Adult Mental Health Inpatient and Rehabilitation Services for the Borough.  

RESOLVED that

the Overview and Scrutiny Committee investigate the subject of the reconfiguration of Adult Mental Health Inpatient and Rehabilitation Services Redditch, and the closure of Hill Crest Ward, by inviting the Chairman of Worcestershire HOSC and the relevant representative from Hereford and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust to attend a meeting with Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; for the reasons as detailed in the preamble above.