Fire ward to stay closed

Published 24 Aug 2010 15:00

A REPORT on the devastating fire at the Christie Ward looks certain to recommend it remains closed indefinitely.

In a letter to the chairman of the Vale of Leven Monitoring Group, Scotland’s Health secretary says there are “clinical, financial and logistical” reasons as to why the ward will not reopen in the near future.

She says a decision on the provision of mental health services at the Vale of Leven Hospital should be delayed for a further “eight to ten months” in light of the fire.

She added that she was of the view that there were “compelling arguments” that any “interim repatriation of the service” was not in patients or residents’ interests.

The letter has sparked fears that mental health provision will be lost to the Vale.

Ms Sturgeon was responding to a letter sent by Bill Brackenridge, chairman of Vale of Leven Monitoring Group, who wrote asking for a “fresh approach” to be taken on the best way forward for the ward in the wake of the blaze.

Before the July fire, mental health services were being monitored to see if keeping inpatient provision at the Vale was sustainable.

Ms Sturgeon stated in her letter that she remains of the view that having around 12 beds is “clinically unsustainable” in the longer term.

In Ms Sturgeon’s response to Mr Brackenridge she stated she would like to see the monitoring period, which was due to conclude in the coming weeks, extended for another eight to 10 months.

Rose Hutchison, who runs a support group for mental health carers and service users in West Dunbartonshire, said that the extended monitoring would be bad for patients and their families.

She said: “I was so disappointed to hear about the fire at the ward. Gartnavel Royal (in Glasgow) has been thrown into chaos as it was not ready to take this amount of people.

“My main concern is that we need to sustain the support from families who visit these people.

“To travel to Gartnavel is unacceptable and they have to realise that to send these patients further out is detrimental to families and patients.”

Jackie Pollock, who is a hospital campaigner, said she was “aghast” when she heard about the letter and is encouraging the community to keep supporting the ward.

A spokeswoman for GGC said: “We plan to fully engage with the Monitoring Group and the options in the report will be discussed with them in detail.

“The Cabinet Secretary has advised that she does not think it necessary for GGC to revisit its mental health strategy.

“The Cabinet Secretary has, however, asked the Monitoring Group to monitor the impact of the enhanced community-based services that have been put in place by GGC for a period of around eight to ten months.”

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 24 Aug 10

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