Cheshire Mental Health Unit To Be Axed

A rehabilitation unit for mental health patients is to be axed. Park House – a 12-bed unit on Bowers Avenue, Davyhulme – will be replaced by a community rehabilitation service.

Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust (BSTMHT) says the move comes after a review of facilities at Park House.

Last month SAM reported that another unit for mental health patients – Brook Heys in Broadheath – was threatened with the axe. A consultation on the future of this 12-bed centre, which provides 24-hour care for elderly patients, has been completed and options are being considered.

On the closure of Park House, a spokesperson for the trust said: “During 2006 a review of the facilities at Park House took place. This was largely due to a reduction in referrals received from other organisations to Park House.

“The review incorporated the views of service users, carers, the trust and the primary care trusts, social services as well as other partners. It concluded that patients and their families would benefit far more from community-based care as opposed to in-patient facilities. By delivering these services in the community, service users can be offered a bespoke package of care.

“Therefore it was in patients’ and the trust’s interest to relocate the services offered at Park House and to close the facility.”

Speaking about Brook Heys, the spokesperson said: “In recent times the needs of people living with dementia have changed. With an ageing population and increase in demand on the services available to people living with the illness, it was felt by many of the service users, their carers and families that Brook Heys was no longer a suitable facility or located in the best place to deliver this type of specialist care.

“Following a consultation with patients and their families, options to guarantee the continued high level of care and support for people living with dementia are being reviewed by the trust.”