Mother Worries NHS Mental Health Review May Lead to Service Reductions

The mother of a man living with schizophrenia is concerned that a consultation process aimed at reorganizing NHS mental health services could result in diminished provisions. The Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) delivers support to individuals experiencing mental health issues across East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton & Hove. Given that the services in each of these three areas currently differ slightly, staff members are being asked for their input on proposals to merge teams and implement a single, standardized service. The trust stated that it would not be clear until after the consultation whether any job cuts would be necessary, but it affirmed that its service users would not be impacted by any changes. Joanna, whose son has schizophrenia and receives support from the SPFT in West Sussex, commented: “If we have reduced people to deliver the service, there’s not going to be so much access to resources.” A spokesperson for the trust explained that the proposals aim to ensure individuals receive a consistent service, regardless of where they reside in Sussex. They added: “We are currently consulting with staff about some proposed changes to our mental health rehabilitation services to better meet the needs of our local community.” Concerns have also been raised regarding plans to modify the use of two inpatient facilities. Rutland Gardens, located in Hove, and Shepherd House, situated in Worthing, currently function as short-term hospitals for individuals experiencing psychosis. The trust is considering converting both facilities into long-term accommodations for people who have been discharged from hospital and are able to live independently within the community. An SPFT spokesperson noted that a high percentage of its inpatients were unable to leave the hospitals due to a scarcity of long-term supported living options available for them to transition into.