Health chiefs from local commissioning organisation NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust gathered on Monday this week to agree plans to improve local mental health services and facilities in York.

Plans for an interim estates solution that addresses concerns raised by the Care Quality Commission were agreed at the Vale of York Mental Health Summit thanks to support and guidance from City of York Council, NHS Property Services and English Heritage.

Dr Mark Hayes, the CCG’s Chief Clinical Officer said: “I am very pleased to announce that whilst we develop a state of the art hospital for mental health patients, the CCG and its partners have agreed an interim solution that will improve the setting for the people who access services at Bootham Park Hospital.

“Quality and safety in services are priorities for the CCG and our interim plan will ensure that these will be provided at the Bootham Park Hospital site.

“Our next step is to review the options and analyse the costs and benefits so we can develop a new hospital that delivers high quality and safe services.

“The interim plan will be formally discussed at the CCG’s Governing Body meeting on Thursday 7 August 2014. Once a formal agreement has been made, the CCG hopes to announce the site of the new hospital in approximately six months.”

The interim plans will provide solutions for three years when it is expected that a new purpose-built mental health hospital will open its doors to patients.

Jill Copeland, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our priority is to make sure that mental health service users are cared for in environments that are safe and conducive to delivering high quality patient care. As such we fully support the CCG’s vision for a modern, purpose-built mental health hospital in York.

“The interim proposals we’ve agreed include changing wards at Bootham Park Hospital to make them more suitable for providing inpatient care; and moving Ward 6 and the ECT suite to Cherry Tree House in York.  These plans will improve the environment for service users who access these services.

“We have also agreed plans with our specialist commissioners to move inpatient services for children and young people from Lime Trees to Mill Lodge in York.  This will provide a better environment with more space, and will allow us to care for more children and young people in inpatient facilities close to their homes and families.

“We are fully committed to providing the best possible care and we will continue to work with service users and their families to engage them on the things that matter most about their treatment and care.”

Neil Redfern, Principal Inspector of Ancient Monuments for English Heritage, Yorkshire, said: “Bootham Park Hospital is a Grade I listed building of outstanding significance. It has a historic role in providing and developing psychiatric care in England. English Heritage are pleased to be working with the CCG and all of the NHS trusts to help them maintain services on site that meet the needs of users.”

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