The Deputy Director, Specialist Inpatient Services, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, will submit Document “Y” which outlines the closure of the Daisy Hill Intensive Therapy Centre (Lynfield Mount Hospital).

Recommended –

That the report be noted.

(Allison Bingham – 01274 363858)

The Deputy Director, Specialist Inpatient Services, presented Document “Y” which outlined the closure of Daisy Hill Intensive Therapy Centre at Lynfield Mount Hospital.  It was explained that the main reason behind the closure had been that the forecast demand had not met the actual demand.  Members noted that it was an internal venture and austerity measures along with the fact that people had not been referred, as the service was not locally commissioned, had affected the demand.  The service had made a loss and the Trust had thoroughly considered the decision to close.  The Deputy Director, Specialist Inpatient Services, reported that a total of eight patients, two local, had been treated at the Centre whilst it had been open and there had been an impact on those patients that had accessed the service when it had closed.  It was confirmed that the Trust had undertaken to support those affected.  With regard to staff, Members noted that the Trust had managed to retain a high number of those that had been employed in the Centre.

Members then raised the following points:

·         When Trusts closed facilities, people used the voluntary sector services more but no additional funds were provided.

·         Why had the demand not met that forecast?

·         Was there a need for the provision in Bradford? Were people not willing to pay?

·         Had marketing been undertaken?

·         It was a difficult area to fund and the Centre had only been open for 18 months.  How had the error of judgement been made?  Why had a great deal of money been invested and then the Centre closed?

·         Would the local patients be able to access the same care in the District now?

·         What about new patients?

·         How many people had been diagnosed in the District?

·         It was regrettable that the Centre had closed as the service was required and people would attend hospitals or a doctor’s surgery instead, which would create further costs.

·             

The Deputy Director confirmed that:

·         The closure only had a limited impact as only two of the patients were local and the Trust had agreed to continue its support, however, it was acknowledged that the demand on the voluntary sector could increase.

·         The Centre had provided 12 beds with an optimum length of stay of six months and 24 patients had been required per annum for it to be viable.  Only eight had been admitted and not all had stayed for six months, therefore, the forecasted income had been well below the costs incurred.

·         There was a need for the provision and the Trust would not have opened the Centre if they had not believed so.  The financial challenges faced by Trusts were also being faced by commissioners.  Marketing had been undertaken and service users were positive about the Centre but had limited funds.  Despite there being patients that required the service, there were no funds available. 

·         An error of judgement had not been made and there would always be an element of risk when opening a service.   The private sector had more funds and could afford to run at a loss for longer.  Private providers had been asked how long it would be before they believed that the market would improve and they had indicated that it could be at least two years.  The landscape had also changed in that the preferred policy was to keep people at home.  It would have been an error of judgement to keep the service open and community services support was available.  There was still a need for services like Daisy Hill, however, the Trust would not have been able to sustain the loss.

·         The local patients had responded well to the programme and would only require out patient support for the next two years.

·         The Trust was trying to mirror some of the elements of expertise in community settings and develop community pathways.  The potential re-use of the Centre for this service had been identified.  It was hoped that the Centre would not be empty for long, though it was a shame that it had closed early.

·         The figures could be provided after the meeting.

·         It was deeply regrettable that the Centre had closed and the Trust would try to work with commissioners where it could and forge links with others.

Resolved –

That the report be noted.

Action: Deputy Director, Specialist Inpatient Services, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust