I was very sorry that the junior doctors felt they had to strike this week. I understand the differences between the two sides are quite narrow and we all hope, including, I am sure, the doctors, that the outstanding issues can be swiftly resolved.
Last Friday I spent the morning visiting Horsham Hospital. Local health provision has many issues which need to be addressed as the population grows but I hope that as part of that we will see an expansion of services at Horsham Hospital, a highly prized community asset.
The services it currently undertakes are wide ranging. The best known are of course its Minor Injuries Unit and the Horizon in-patient ward which is invaluable for local residents who are recuperating or who need palliative care. These operate alongside Community Nurses whose vital support over a wide area is increasingly assisted by mobile technology. Specialist support is provided by the Neurological Rehabilitation Team helping those with strokes, brain injuries or progressive neurological conditions. Meanwhile Horsham’s Pro Active Care team’s groundbreaking work (medical staff working in collaboration with Social Care, helping patients’ to stay in their own homes) has been Highly Commended nationally by the NHS.
“Time to Talk” provides psychological therapy services across West Sussex. It has grown in recent years from 8 to 160 staff and is one of the top five such services in the country. They are at the forefront of a revolution in the treatment of mental health. One in four develop anxiety or depression at some stage and the Government this week announced £1bn of improvements to mental health provision. In coming years far more new and expectant mums with poor mental health will be helped and faster treatment will be provided for teenagers with eating disorders. There will be a £400 million investment in crisis resolution and home treatment teams, operating 24/7 as an alternative (and one which is often preferred by patients) to hospitals.
Mental Health services have historically been the “poor relation” in the NHS. I very much hope that this announcement marks a change in the right direction.