Plans to create mental health 'hub'

Friday 24 February 2017

Jersey’s Health Minister says States money set aside four years ago to improve mental health services is finally getting spent now that a site’s been chosen for the Island’s new hospital.

Senator Andrew Green explained to a Scrutiny Panel that, until recently, the £350,000 allocated for a feasibility study had to be "frozen" because of a clash.

At the time the money was approved, Overdale was being considered as one of two locations for a new ‘dual hospital’ option. The problem was that it was also being considered as a hub for mental health treatment. Until a decision was made, there was no way forward.

Now that it’s been agreed the new multi-million pound hospital is to be built adjacent to the current one bordering Gloucester Street, the Parade, Kensington Place, it’s once again possible to consider focusing mental health facilities at Overdale.

Currently mental health services are spread over a number of locations. The major centre is in St Saviour in buildings attached to what in 1865 was called the 'Jersey Lunatic Asylum'. Orchard House is an inpatient service for those with an acute mental health problem requiring hospitalisation. It has 14 beds and provides 24-hour care to people whose mental health care cannot be provided safely in the community.

But according to health chief Julie Garbutt, the, “...physical quality of Orchard House is not acceptable in this day and age”. Tiles have fallen off the roof, and there are potholes in the approach road.

A short-term measure may well be to move Orchard House’s facilities to Clinique Pinel, another building currently providing mental health facilities at St Saviour – mainly for those over 65. It has two separate wards – Beech and Cedar. Beech Ward helps those for whom memory problems make living in the community difficult, while Cedar Ward is dedicated to those with issues that can come on suddenly, such as depression, anxiety or psychosis.

Pictured: Senator Andrew Green, Health Minister.

In combining the two facilities, Senator Andrew Green stressed that the two groups of patients wouldn’t be merged, and that they would still get the same dedicated and targeted treatment, but he also explained staff from the two units would be able to aid each other in times of crisis and would make the centre more efficient.

But the ‘merger’, if it goes ahead, may only be a temporary measure. According to Senator Green, “...there is no doubt we need to get off the St Saviour site.” The £350,000 is now going to be spent on looking at what facilities the Island needs in the long-term. When that has been decided, it will be possible to know the size and scope of any buildings needed to provide those services. That could mean building at Overdale or on a completely different site.