Three mental health wards at Queen Mary’s Hospital are to close and beds will be reduced by 10 per cent across south-west London as services are centralised at Springfield and Tolworth hospitals.

Wimbledon Times:

Centralisation: Chief exec David Bradley said £20m will be invested into community services 

The changes, announced today, are expected to save £2.8 million each year.

There are currently 153 acute mental health beds across the three hospitals. This will be reduced to anything between 108 to 126 beds by 2021.

£160m will be invested in the Tooting and Tolworth based hospitals, money from the sale of NHS land.

Meanwhile Queen Mary’s Hospital, in Roehampton, will lose its three inpatient wards, totalling 64 beds, which care for 500 people each year for everything from schizophrenia to depression and personality disorder.

The hospital will continue to have community mental health services on site.

The plans have been agreed by NHS England and health bosses in Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth.

A consultation was held between September and December 2014 into the services run by St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

BACKGROUND

Dr Phil Moore, clinical lead for mental health services at Kingston CCG, said: “We would really like to stress that our overall aim is to improve the inpatient mental health facilities.

“At the moment some of the facilities are over 150 years old. Even the more modern wards at Queen Mary’s Hospital were not designed for mental health services and would be better suited to other patient care.

 “Community services will be provided in every borough and they will still have a base in Roehampton.”

He said investment into community mental health services is set to increase in Wandsworth with more money going into “home treatment teams” as well as an older people’s service and support services. He said this will mean 24/7 support to people at home.

David Bradley, chief executive of South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “This is a monumental decision and once in a lifetime opportunity to change mental health services for the people of south west London for generations to come.

“Building the two new state-of-the art hospitals will make sure the people who need our help can get the best care and treatment in the best facilities possible.

"The CCG's commitment to invest a further £20 million in community mental health services means we will help people get better, closer to home. This will make a very real and lasting difference to the lives of all the people who use our services, and a lasting legacy for the area.

“On behalf of the Trust I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and made this possible. The changes will take place over the next few years.”

More to follow.