Decision to close Swindon's only mental health place of safety labelled as 'disgusting'

The specialist suite, at Sandalwood Court in Stratton, is a vital resource where those who are deemed to pose a risk to their own life or the lives of others due to a mental health condition can be taken for urgent assessment.

The police have a power under the Mental Health Act to ‘section’ someone in the above circumstances. This involves taking them off the street or out of their home and to a place of safety where they can be seen by suitably trained professionals. The place of safety at Sandalwood Court performs just that role.

But earlier this year, the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) revealed plans to close it meaning that in a crisis, seriously ill patients would be taken out of the area, to the Green Lane Hospital in Devizes. A similar suite in Salisbury was also identified as at risk.

The plans were met with widespread disbelief with mental health charities coming out against them.

Swindon’s MPs were critical of the proposals and the degree of consultation while the council and the Clinical Commissioning Group also expressed concerns.

But despite the many organisations urging them to think again, AWP has stuck to its original plan. The places of safety in Swindon and Salisbury will close, with Devizes set to be the only facility in the county.

The decision has been met with anger from the charity that represents mental health service users in Swindon.

Swindon SUNS was set up to be the voice of patients but chairman Ann Mooney says they don’t feel listened to on this issue.

“It’s disgusting,” said Ann. “It’s so important that these places are local - it’s hard enough on people needing to go to a place of safety without adding the distance.

“They’ve got to realise how important it is that loved ones can get there to support people. How are carers, many who are on benefits, supposed to get to Devizes?

“That’s three bus rides away for some of the people we look after. Imagine if it is a single mother with children, being that far away from her kids. There are so many reasons why this is diabolical.”

Ann has personal experience of being taken to Sandalwood Court. She has also been taken to out of area facilities too and says the impact is noticeably different.

“I know what it’s like, feeling like my family can’t get to me. It’s horrible, it doesn’t speed recovery, in fact it makes it worse.

“We’ve spoken to people who have been taken out of Swindon in the past. When you speak to them they’re crying and asking when they can get back closer to home.”

Ann also questioned whether the change would achieve the savings, in cost and resources, that it is supposed to.

“If they’ve got someone who is being taken to a place of safety these days then it’s serious. My worry is that they’ll start dumping them in taxis to get them to Devizes - it’s happened before. “When I was ill I had to be escorted with two people sat either side of me. Those escorts are going to cost them.”

AWP has sought to allay fears around the consolidation of services to the Devizes site.

They have been keen to stress that a place of safety is not a ward, but rather a temporary place for urgent assessment, thus meaning that visits from friends and family would not normally be required.

The trust says moving to a single site will reduce the length of average stays from 72 hours to the new national target of 24 hours.

AWP’s Director of Nursing & Quality, Andrew Dean, said, “We know that being in a place of safety, or caring for someone who is using this service due to a mental health crisis, is enormously distressing.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners and staff to ensure that we deliver a safe, high quality service for this group of service users, their carers and families.”

But concern closer to home in Swindon remains.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, who called on AWP to keep the Sandalwood Court facility open, said he was “disappointed” by the decision.

“At a time when nationally we are rightly focusing on treating both mental and physical health equally, it is not right that local residents in need of urgent, specialist support will be asked to travel to Devizes,” he said.

“This decision will have a negative impact on our frontline services and to the support available to some of the most vulnerable people in our town.

“This has not properly been thought through and key stakeholders have not been given the fullest opportunity to engage, with no prior warning of the initial consultation.”

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland added his voice to those concerned about the decision.

He said: “I am not happy with this decision and do not feel that AWP is placing priority on one of its larger centres of population and need.”

Nicki Millin, Accountable Officer at Swindon CCG, said: “We have been notified of the outcome of the Place of Safety consultation by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

“We are aware of the concerns raised by many people in Swindon regarding AWP’s proposals to relocate the Swindon place of safety suite from Sandalwood Court to a single, regional suite based in Devizes.

“The place of safety consultation outcome document will be taken through the CCG’s governance process over the coming weeks.

“Once this process is complete, the CCG will formally comment upon the outcome and proposal.”