The latest in a series of demonstrations took place today as Greater Manchester West Mental Health Trust's board meeting was lobbied by users, carers, staff and community campaigners.
They are protesting against the Trust's plans to `redesign' older adult mental health in-patient services, slashing the number of beds available for people with dementia, acute anxiety and depression in Salford by almost a half, and closing the Claremont ward at Meadowbrook in order to `re-locate' it, with less beds, miles away at Woodlands in Little Hulton. It also wants to shut down the Hawthorn facility in Bolton, reducing overall beds in both areas by 54.
The government recommends a maximum 85% occupancy rate, but Greater Manchester West Mental Health Trust is already 13% above that. Over the last two years, 1,500 beds have been closed in England and, as a result, many patients are sent miles away, to private hospitals at huge expense or have to wait weeks for a bed.
The Trust argues that the bed closures will be replaced by more `care in the community' featuring three visits to patients a day. But Steve Cullen, a user representative, reckons this will not happen in any meaningful way…
"We believe people are being given false promises for community care" he says "We have calculated the money promised will not pay for anywhere like three visits a day and allows for, at best, two visits of only five minutes each. It means the service is likely to be about giving medication with no time for other support or treatments and is far below what the glossy brochure promises."
Campaigner Paul Gerrard adds that the looming mental health crisis can only get worse…
"With numbers for both elderly and mental illness rising, this is not the time to cut beds" he explains "Community care should be increased without cuts in beds. Britain is a rich country. We could afford billions for the banks. We are only asking for a few million. We cannot let our services be cut and risk them becoming a disaster like Mid Staffordshire."
Trafford has already pulled out of the proposals after objections, and campaigners are hoping Bolton and Salford will follow suit.
A big demonstration is planned in Eccles on 29th March, before the final decision by GMW after consultation ends on 31st March.
For further details on the cuts and bed closures see previous Salford Star article – click here
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