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Apr 2020

Last Updated: 25/04/2020

Health

Harrogate mental health unit closes amid fears of increased demand due to coronavirus

by Vicky Carr

| 25 Apr, 2020

Mental health care for inpatients has now transferred to a new hospital in York, with an emphasis being placed on more community support to keep people in their own homes.

The Briary Unit at Harrogate District Hospital has this week closed its doors for the final time as inpatient mental health services transfer to York.

The hospital wing, which offered specialist inpatient care for people suffering with mental health problems, is now sitting empty, as services are provided in the newly-built Foss Park Hospital on the north side of the city.

A spokesman for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, which is not responsible for mental health provision, said it was now considering how best to use the space.

Naomi Lonergan, director of operations for North Yorkshire and York at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Foundation Trust which runs mental health services for the Harrogate district, said:

“Over the last few weeks our services have been transferring from the Briary Wing at Harrogate District Hospital as planned in phased approach. All services will have vacated by the end of this week and we have been working with services users, carers and partners to keep them updated on these changes.”

Alongside TEWV, the decision to close the Briary Unit last year was made by Harrogate and Rural District Clinical Commissioning Group (HaRD CCG), which has since been merged with two others to form North Yorkshire CCG.

A spokesman for the new CCG said:

“Relocating the inpatient beds for Harrogate patients to York has released £500k which we are investing to expand and improve community mental health services which includes crisis. This is in line with one of our key principles which is to keep and treat people at home. The mental health transformation project is expected to reduce admissions, and when people do need to be admitted to reduce their length of stay.

“We are conscious of the impact on families and carers and this was picked up as part of the engagement exercise. TEWV and the CCG are looking at volunteer drivers to help but also recognise that this is a difficult time.”

Growing demand

With the full impact of the coronavirus crisis on mental health still to become clear, concerns have been raised that the new arrangements will not meet growing demand over the coming months.

Cllr Geoff Webber, pictured left, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on North Yorkshire County Council, last year criticised the decision to close the Briary Unit, saying the district’s residents had “been screwed” by TEWV and HaRD CCG, which made the decision.

This week he said: “My concern remains that when there is pressure on the facility in York – as I’m sure there will be with the fall out from the pandemic – then Harrogate patients will be come second in the queue and possibly referred to Middlesborough or even further away. Community-based services will be unable to cope in the current situation.”

The CCG spokesman said their modelling suggested the 72 beds in York would be sufficient, especially with an increase in community-based services, but there was always the possibility that patients would have to be treated further afield. Meanwhile, services have been adapted during the coronavirus crisis.

Ms Lonergan said:

“We continue to deliver our services. We have introduced phone and video contacts for community appointments, where it is appropriate, and this has worked well. During this time we are also trying to maintain a level of contact with all patients, supplemented by more frequent contact by volunteers or other staff where appropriate. In the community, where it is identified that people do require face-to-face support, Trust staff can still visit people at home and they are taking the necessary precautions when doing this.”

She added that the crisis service, offering 24-hour support, was continuing to operate and directed people to the website for more information.

Read more: From building a new hospital to moving all services to York - how did we get here?

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