Statement from Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP)
“CWP has been experiencing severe pressures within acute inpatient mental health care. When these bed pressures occur, our first priority is always to ensure that people are safe. We assess each person’s clinical need and will work with trusted and regulated partners to find suitable alternatives, if a bed is not available within our local delivery footprint.
“We are committed to providing local specialist acute mental health care with a good patient experience for everyone who needs it. Prior to the pandemic, CWP had a very low track record of requiring out of area placements and have a proactive plan to return to this position. This includes:
- Working with local system partners and providers, such as social care and housing to reduce rising length of stay at our units and ensure that support is available in the community to enable supported discharges and improve flow;
- Increasing surge capacity and working closely with the North West Bed Bureau to respond to increased demand;
- Launching innovative new services including, a new Mental Health Intensive Support Team to provide targeted rehabilitation support to people with complex needs, a new ‘First Response’ Service to ensure people receive timely intervention when experiencing crisis and four ‘crisis cafes’ across Cheshire and Wirral;
- Transformation of specialist community mental health services in line with the aims of the NHS Long Term Plan;
- Continuing to invest in our workforce to provide opportunities for career development, growth and new skills.”
If you or a loved one are concerned about admission to hospital, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service who will be able to support you:
Email: cwp.
Phone: 0800 195 4462 (open 10am to 3pm, Monday-Friday)
