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Dec 2020

Health

Harrogate needs mental health crisis team 'at earliest opportunity'

Published: 15 Dec 2020, 11:41 GMT

by Calvin Robinson

A 29-staff mental health crisis team moved from Harrogate to Ripon following the closure of the hospital's Briary Unit in April. But health bosses have conceded that it is not sustainable and will only be a short term relocation.

The Briary Wing, Harrogate District Hospital, which was closed back in May 2020.

A mental health crisis team needs to return to Harrogate “at the earliest possible opportunity”, according to health bosses.

Harrogate District Hospital’s Briary Wing, which offered specialist inpatient care for people suffering with mental health problems, closed in April.

Inpatient mental health services transferred to York.

The adult and children crisis teams, which support people with mental health problems who may otherwise need to go to hospital and includes 29 staff, relocated to Ripon after officials were unable to identify alternative accommodation in Harrogate.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which runs mental health services for the Harrogate district, has conceded the move out of town “cannot be sustained in the long term”.

The quote is contained in a report due before North Yorkshire County Council’s health scrutiny panel this week.

The report also says the trust “fully acknowledged” that the service should be moved back to Harrogate “at the earliest possible opportunity”.

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

Harrogate families describe anguish of mental health problems and impact of Briary Unit closure

About 300 people a month use the crisis team for advice, support and assessment.

Naomi Lonergan, TEWV director of operations for North Yorkshire and York told the Stray Ferret:

“A lot of work was carried out to find new accommodation for the crisis teams in Harrogate. Unfortunately at the time there weren’t suitable premises that could accommodate both teams and allow them to work together in providing interventions.

“As a short term solution we transferred the team to a suitable space at our existing trust premises at The Orchards, Ripon. However work is underway to identify potential sites and explore all possible solutions to accommodate crisis teams to enable them to deliver a service across Harrogate and rural district.

“Whilst the team base is in Ripon, our priority is always to maintain face-to-face contact and see people who need crisis interventions in their homes or as close to home as possible. Most people accessing our crisis services continue to be seen in the Harrogate area.

“We have identified rooms in the Harrogate community bases to enable face-to-face contact, as well as using increased community investment in team members to enable more home visits where needed. Where clinically appropriate we are also offering attend anywhere virtual consultations too.”

North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which buys medical services for the county, said the transfer of inpatient beds “released £500,000”, which could be invested in community mental health services.

Have you been affected by this change in mental health services? Get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

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Harrogate needs mental health crisis team 'at earliest opportunity'

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