Local MP, David Rutley, has pressed Cheshire & Wirral Partnership (CWP), the local mental health service provider, to keep acute mental health beds in Macclesfield, at a meeting with Sheena Cumiskey, CWP’s Chief Executive, on Friday 1st December.
Under options being considered by CWP, a stronger focus is being put on community mental health services. David recognises that this is an important objective, but believes it is vital to continue to retain beds for adults with acute mental health needs in our local community, as well as dementia services for older patients.
At the meeting, David raised his strong concerns about options being considered and highlighted key questions that CWP needs to answer regarding: the shape and design of its proposed community-based patient care; how this will be delivered for patients; and how and why CWP believes it can deliver acute adult mental health services with only six crisis care beds in Cheshire East.
David is urging Cheshire East Council's Health, Adult Social Care and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee to not support any move to a wider public consultation, until these vital questions have been fully answered and CWP’s proposals have been substantially improved. He is also planning to spend time with the local community mental health team early in the new year, to find out more about how their services are delivered at the frontline.
Speaking after his meeting, David said, “It is vital that we continue to retain high-quality mental health services for adults with acute needs in Macclesfield. There are still key questions that need to be answered before CWP should consider moving to a public consultation, and it must more clearly demonstrate how it will sustainably and safely deliver any proposals for future services going forward. I will continue to keep close to this vital issue, and work with our local campaign group, East Cheshire Mental Health Forum, in the weeks and months ahead.”