NHS Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group

Join our Worthing or Horsham events to feedback on the plans to improve mental health across West Sussex

People living in and around Worthing and Horsham are invited to NHS events to input into proposals to improve the quality and safety of mental health services for adults, older people and those living with dementia.

The two events form part of a series of four public meetings to have your say on the plans. They come following the first event held in Chichester last night (Tuesday). As well as individuals, attendees included representatives from Carers Support West Sussex; the Capital Project Trust; MIND; Chichester Counselling Services; staff working for the mental health and community NHS trusts; and more.

Dr Bikram Raychaudhuri (Dementia Clinical Lead and Adult Mental Health Clinical Lead for Coastal West Sussex CCG) said:

“We were delighted that people were able to take the time to come along, meet our clinicians and have their say on the proposals, which we believe will improve mental health services for people throughout West Sussex. We had some really insightful and constructive feedback that will help us to shape the way we support people with mental health needs across our local communities. If you haven’t yet, please do read about our proposals and let us know your thoughts and suggestions. We want to get this right and we need your help to make sure we do.”

 

The proposals have been developed over many months by the three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in West Sussex and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, following input and feedback from doctors, specialists, service users and staff. They aim to:

• provide a higher quality of care by moving services from out-dated, poor quality wards in Chichester and Horsham to safer, more modern wards in Worthing and Crawley
• give patients the privacy and dignity they deserve and to meet national standards by making all wards single-sex, and
• provide an opportunity to create a centre of excellence in Worthing for people living with dementia which will improve the care for both their mental and physical health needs.

The next events will take place in

• Worthing - Chatsworth Hotel, The Steyne, Worthing, BN11 3DU on Monday 19 August, 6pm – 8pm
• Horsham - The Holbrook Club,  North Heath Lane, Horsham RH12 5PJ on Tuesday 20 August, 2pm – 4pm

To come along, book your place online, email us on: westsussex.mh@nhs.net or call us on: 0300 304 0330 (local rates apply).

Two British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters will be present at the event and the venue has level access and an assessible toilet. Copies of the Easy Read consultation document will also be available alongside the standard document for anyone who requests it. If you have any additional access needs that you would like to discuss with us prior to attending, please contact us to speak to a member of the team.

A public consultation on the proposals launched on 17 July 2019 for a 12 week period. There are a range of other ways that people can get involved, including an online survey (also available in hard copy) and smaller events for organisations representing service users, carers and those with an interest in these proposals will be also be held. Anyone who wants to arrange a face-to-face meeting can contact the consultation team on the details below.

All of the consultation documents, including business planning documents, are published online for information. The consultation will close on Friday 11 October and all of the findings will be independently analysed to enable the three CCGs in West Sussex and Sussex Partnership to make a final decision on these services later this year.