Publish date: 21 October 2022
West London NHS Trust has launched a 12-week enhanced engagement period to guide the future of its adult inpatient mental health services in Ealing.
As a result of the pandemic, the Hope and Horizon wards at St Bernard's Hospital have been suspended.
There has already been a lot of feedback about how staff and patients find the facilities challenging, but the Trust aims to gather more views from service users, patients, carers and local residents.
Dr Chris Hilton, Chief Operating Officer (Local Services), said: "We want to talk to you, and hear your views on inpatient mental health services in Ealing.
"So for 12 weeks we're holding open talks to understand how we can best provide services in the future."
West London NHS Trust provides a total of 239 adult inpatient mental health beds across several sites in Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham.
The changes currently being proposed concern 31 suspended beds at the Hope and Horizon wards.
St Bernard's Hospital is a Victorian listed structure constructed in 1829 and Grade II listed in 1985.
The Hope and Horizon wards provide old-fashioned and outdated environments which don't meet many of the requirements to carry out modern, high-quality care.
For example, there is poor ventilation, limited access to outdoor space and unsafe design elements, which could be used to cause harm.
In particular, the Wolsey Wing, which was built more than 100 years before the NHS was founded, was deemed not fit for delivering modern health services.
The proposals will not affect the Trust's other wards and services at the hospital, where it will continue to deliver regional specialist forensic mental health and older people's mental health services (272 beds) in separate facilities.
The Trust is asking local residents, service users and community organisations to work together on the long term plan for adult inpatient mental health care.
So far the Trust has spoken to more than 28- individuals, attended meetings with key organisations, and held workshops with specific groups to inform the developments and discuss the current options.
As part of the 12-week engagement period, the Trust will be running three online public events, where people can find out more information about the plans.
These will be held on:
- 31 October, 12pm to 1.30pm.
- 23 November, 10am to 11.30am.
- 5 December, 5pm to 6.30pm.
For more information about the services, including how you can get involved in the discussions, click here.