Hospital inpatient mental health service may be axed 29/8/11
Islanders needing hospital care for a mental illness could be forced to to travel to the mainland under changes being considered by Western Isles Health Board.
Getting rid of a local inpatient service is one option for the modernisation of mental health services in the islands. It would see all mental health services transferred into the community, perhaps in conjunction with other agencies.
But people with a serious mental health issue requiring a hospital care would be sent away to Inverness under the proposal.
An alternative plan is to downgrade inpatient services locally and look more to community services.
The changes are mooted because the health board is considering scrapping what it
calls the outdated present service -
The board says this creates a culture of dependency, and it also goes against how staff, service users and partners have said they wanted to see services delivered.
NHS Western Isles Medical Director Dr Jim Ward said: “NHS Western Isles is focused on the strategic development of services for people with mental health problems, and providing local support within the community to reduce the likelihood of individuals requiring inpatient care.
“What is also fundamental to any considerations is that, where inpatient care is required, it must be provided in appropriate surroundings.”
The health board is consulting over the options