Following on from the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) decision to withdraw registration of Bootham Park Hospital, Michelle Carrington, NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) Chief Nurse, said:

“It is disappointing news, especially at such short notice. As commissioners, we understand that there are remaining issues to resolve in the Bootham Park Estate and this why we made a commitment to provide a permanent base for mental health services in York with facilities that are fit for the 21st century.

“Until we could provide this new facility we have worked closely with Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Property Services to deliver a tri-party improvement plan to significantly upgrade the facilities at Bootham Park Hospital.”

The plan, which was formally agreed by all partners, ensured that improvements could be made in ways that involved the least disruption to clinical services and patient care. Work completed since February 2014 at at a total cost of £1.76m included: 

• A much improved elderly assessment ward which was moved to refurbished accommodation at Cherry Tree House, Heworth.
• The conversion of ward 8 to new outpatient services
• A complete overhaul of the water hygiene system 
• A replacement of the main duct system
• The removal of potential ligature points.

Michelle Carrington added: “Following concerns about service quality and safety, the CCG tendered the mental health and learning disability services contract. The contract, with a specification that was co-designed by service users, staff and members of the community was awarded to Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and is scheduled to commence on Thursday 1 October 2015.

“Until then, our main focus is to work with Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to ensure that patients are moved with the minimum amount of disruption. We want to reassure service users, family members and carers that this work is a priority and if they have a question or a concern about the relocation of patients and provision of other services from Bootham Park Hospital, that they should contact us either by email to VOYCCG.PatientRelations@nhs.net or by phone 01904 555 999.”

Finally, the CCG is reassuring service users, family members and carers that it is committed to deliver high quality care and services and it is confident that in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust that this will be achieved.

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