I have been working at Parklands Surgery now for nearly 6 years and I have really enjoyed the time I have spent with the patients and the staff. As most of you are aware, my husband has been unwell for the past 4 years requiring lengthy admissions in hospital locally and in London. I have, therefore, decided to give up my position as a Partner and will become a Locum as from September. This gives me more time to be with my 3 children and my husband while his health is still reasonable. The prognosis of his disease is not known so I have decided I would like to spend more time with him and the children in the next few years.

My last working day at Parklands Surgery is 20/08/10. I will then be on annual leave until 13/09/10. I will then start working as a Locum with the Pallant Medical Chambers so you may well see me around at various surgeries and in the Out of Hours surgery.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff and patients for their support of me over the past few years which have not been easy either for me or my colleagues. I wish my successor all the best in looking after the lovely patients I have come to know over the past 6 years. I am sure they will enjoy the job as much as I have.

Thank you again and goodbye for now.

The decision from the health authority

The Board approved the recommendation to proceed with Option 1. As outlined in previous letters, this option involves making 10 ‘high impact changes’ to mental health services, which will then be followed by reductions in inpatient capacity, involving the closure of one ward in the Centurion Unit in Chichester, Clayton Ward in Haywards Heath, and Dove Ward in Crawley.

This decision means the retention of Iris Ward in Horsham.

To see the full Board paper, including the independent analysis of public feedback, and details of the options appraisal process, visit www.westsussex.nhs.uk/board-meetings.

What comes next

The Board gave its support to Option 1, subject to the condition that the high impact changes must be in place before any reductions in inpatient capacity can take place.

The changes, and the timetables for their implementation, are as follows:

• A minimum of 35 mental health specialists within primary care. December 2010.
• An increase in the percentage of carers receiving an assessment from 13% to 25%, and care plans in place within 1 week of an assessment. April 2011.
• An Intensive Clinical Case Management Service providing extended hours services, 7 days a week, for those with substantial mental health needs. Also, access to a professional on a 24 hour basis if needed. March 2011.
• A Community Case Management Service providing clinical and social care support to GPs, a minimum of 10 Brokers helping people to access lower level care through Self Directed Support and extended use of Personal Health Budgets. January 2011.
• A 12-bed ‘shared care’ ward for people with dementia at the Princess Royal Hospital. January 2011.
• New MH Liaison Services for all people with mental health problems attending Royal West Sussex, Worthing and East Surrey Hospitals ensuring progress towards new quality standards, including reduced length of stay for patients admitted with dementia. April 2011.
• A Service User-run Peer Support Service for those admitted to inpatient care to support more rapid recovery. January 2011.
• A crisis resolution service for people with dementia in the Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex area providing enhanced, intensive access to 1:1 care and the full extension of existing Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment services to people over the age of 65. March 2011.
• Recruitment of 117 High and Low Intensity Therapists supporting GPs with a range of psychological therapy services. April 2011.
• New standards for timely delivery of Self Directed Support. October 2010.

To see the full Board paper, including the independent analysis of public feedback, and details of the options appraisal process, visit www.westsussex.nhs.uk/board-meetings.

Dr Campbell will be leaving Parklands on the 20th August 2010. She has been with the practice for 6 years and is leaving to spend more time with her family. She will join Pallant house as a locum so will work in other surgeries in the area.

Everyone at Parklands will miss Dr Campbell and wish her well for the future

Dr Charlotte Williams has now left Parklands to work at St Wilfreds Hospice. We would like to welcome Dr Alastair Bush will be with us for the next 6 months.