PUBLISHED: 16:28 29 March 2018 | UPDATED: 16:28 29 March 2018 Julie Cave, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) chief executive. Photo: NSFT NSFT Staffing levels and unsafe environments were among the reasons for the closure of 36 beds at the region’s beleaguered mental health trust over the last few months, it can be revealed. Speaking at Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust’s (NSFT) board of directors meeting today, the organisation’s outgoing chief executive Julie Cave assured the public staff and patient safety were at the heart of the bed closures. But she revealed there had been 36 beds lost since the autumn - 28 of which were temporary. The latest closures came yesterday when it was announced Lark Ward - a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Woodlands, based at Ipswich Hospital - would close from April 6 due to staff shortages. The number of beds available on the ward had already been reduced from 10 to seven in October. Other temporary … [Read more...] about Mental health trust boss says 36 beds closed since autumn were necessary for patient safety
Mental health
Mental health staff ‘fear losing jobs’ over bed cut plan
‘Stressed’ NHS staff are ‘frightened to speak out’ over proposals to close mental health beds in Chichester ‘for fear they will lose their jobs’, it is claimed. The Sussex Partnerships Trust is looking at transferring beds and services from Graylingwell to Worthing and Crawley, leaving no facilities in Chichester.Staff, doctors and nurses are ‘very worried’ for the people who use the mental health services and the impact on carers and family with extra travel costs, as well as the ‘isolation’ from not having the support ‘from the nursing teams they know’, an anonymous letter sent to the Observer states.It states: “The talk of 17 bed closures as the trust plans to increase crisis care to keep people at home is interesting – with the existing services so stretched and staff so stressed with their current case loads and the lack of staff and inability to recruit and having to manage much higher risk … [Read more...] about Mental health staff ‘fear losing jobs’ over bed cut plan
‘Could do better’ on mental health
Teenagers from Sandy have taken part in a survey to help understand mental health in young people. The Sandy Youth Mental Wellbeing Project, with Youth Action and Groundwork, developed questions to put to volunteers aimed at learning more about mental health among young people.A report to Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire states: “Though the number of respondents is not statistically significant the project provides a valuable insight into young people’s understanding and experiences of mental health.”In the interviews, carried out at Sandy Youth Club, six youngsters said they had suffered from a recent mental health issue and nine people said they knew someone who had suffered. Four young people who said they had been bullied also went on to self harm.Most of the youngsters said support from friends or family members had helped them deal with situations and many of them stressed it was good to talk about their issues.“It was clear that many young people had not … [Read more...] about ‘Could do better’ on mental health
Mental health charity Centrepieces opens Bexley art exhibition
PUBLISHED: 15:53 20 November 2017 | UPDATED: 15:53 20 November 2017 Anna MacSwan Centrepieces was founded by artists from Bexley and surrounding areas Archant The exhibition will try to offer a greater understanding of mental health Sculptures, paintings and other artwork created through a Bexley mental health project will be displayed at an exhibition starting this weekend. The charity Centrepieces, founded in 1999 by a group of local artists, is behind the exhibition at the Stables Gallery at Hall Place, which tries to offer a greater understanding of mental health. Between 150 and 180 pieces will be on display. All have been created by members of the charity who live in Bexley and surrounding areas and have experienced some kind of mental illness. Running regular workshops in various different forms of art, from sculpture to photography to mask making, the charity aims to improve the confidence and self-esteem of people who are suffering from mental health problems while … [Read more...] about Mental health charity Centrepieces opens Bexley art exhibition
Bexley mental health project opens art exhibition
PUBLISHED: 16:33 16 November 2017 | UPDATED: 16:33 16 November 2017 Anna MacSwan Art exhibition by Bexley charity Centrepieces Archant The charity Centrepieces, founded by local artists, is behind the exhibition An exhibition of artwork which tries to offer a greater understanding of mental health will open in Bexley on November 25. The charity Centrepieces, founded by a group of local artists who have experienced mental health problems, is behind the exhibition at the Stables Gallery at Hall Place. Since 1999 the charity has offered art activities to people in Bexley and surrounding areas with mental health problems along with the opportunity to display and sell their work. Geoff Norris, co-ordinator of Centrepieces, said: “I thoroughly enjoy the experience of being involved in the passion and creativity of Centrepieces artists - and witnessing how people change in a very positive way over time.” The exhibition will be opened by Councillor Eileen Pallen and there … [Read more...] about Bexley mental health project opens art exhibition