My battle against hospital cutbacks (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

My battle against hospital cutbacks

12:00pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News By Joanna Davis

A MENTAL health services user is battling to challenge cuts at Bridport hospital through the courts.

Ros Copson has launched a claim for a judicial review into a decision by health chiefs to axe the seven beds at the Bridport Hughes Unit.

She is being represented by a firm of London solicitors and a judge will decide next month whether a judicial review into Dorset HealthCare Trust’s scrapping of the beds will go ahead.

Bridport resident Mrs Copson, who suffers from severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), said: “I’m quite happy to stand up in front of a judge and jury and tell them why the beds need to stay.

“It would be an impossible situation if they went. It would completely destroy service users.

“I’m doing this because when it comes to people suffering I can’t stand it. When you’re living with a mental health problem and a psychiatric disorder you need this service. These beds are desperately needed. When you are ill you need a place where you feel safe.”

Under the plans, the beds would be closed in 2013, along with beds for mental health patients at Stewart Lodge in Sherborne.

Health chiefs say they will replace the care provision with ‘home-based’ community services and a ‘crisis house’ in Weymouth.

Mrs Copson added: “Care in the community does not replace this.

“This has already created a huge unrest among patients and carers.

“Many people don’t have the support at home to make sure they are properly looked after.

“We’re extremely worried that the only in-patient facility will be three miles north of Dorchester or in Weymouth. It will be very hard for patients and carers to travel to and from the hospital.

“The trust has not solved the travel problem.”

Diane Aston of Scott Moncrieff and Associates has taken on Mrs Copson’s case.

Simon Williams, chairman of the Hughes Unit Service Users (HUGS), said Mrs Copson’s claim has given campaigners fresh hope.

He said: “It will be for the judge to decide whether we have a case or not.

“I hope it will be successful because so many people feel their views have been ridden roughshod over on the so-called consultation process.”

Mr Williams is urging as many people as possible who are affected to attend the HUGS annual meeting on Thursday, October 4 at 3.30pm in the hall at the back of the United Church in East Street, Bridport.

He said: “The more people who can come and express their views on this, the better.”

NHS making ‘improvements’

A SPOKESMAN for Dorset HealthCare and NHS Dorset said: “In partnership with NHS Dorset, Dorset HealthCare is working to make continued improvements to the quality of mental health care in Dorset.

“The rationale behind improving urgent care mental health services remains the same, to provide more ‘recovery-based’ services in the future, which will be personalised and responsive to each person’s specific situation and focused on improving their overall wellbeing.

“These developments are in response to government recommendations to move away from the traditional in-patient style of mental health service delivery, to a more person-centred, community-based approach – with in-patient beds available in line with medical need.”

The spokesman said there has been ‘extensive engagement’ with service users on its proposals.