HC Deb 19 December 2002 vol 396 c1060W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the estimated total annual cost is of the new adolescent unit at Springfield hospital combined with the estimated annual cost of maintaining the replacement services under consultation for Surrey following the proposed closure of the Woodside Adolescent Unit; and what the current annual cost was of the Woodside unit in the last 12 months; [87523]

(2) what discussions Surrey Oaklands initiated with the NHS in London about the closure of the Woodside Adolescent Unit; [87525]

(3) what the clinical reason was for the decision to transfer adolescent services from the Woodside Adolescent Unit to a new unit at Springfield hospital. [87524]

Ms Blears

In order to meet the needs of the local population, clinicians and commissioners in South West London felt that a local unit was needed with outreach provision, intensive care facilities, treatment available seven days a week and an ability to take emergency admissions where clinically indicated. This would better provide accessible specialist services to adolescents with mental health problems.

The new adolescent unit at Springfield hospital is estimated to cost £1.7 million, and will include the development of an outreach service to offer intensive pre and post-admission support to adolescents. Precise costs of proposed replacement services for Surrey will be available after the public consultation, depending on the outcome. However, East Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT) is committed to maintaining the same level of funding as currently exists at £462,000. The annual cost of the Woodside unit is approximately £1.06 million, but other placements are made in both the national health service and the private sector, and costs vary according to the particular needs of the adolescent and the particular placement.

There have been regular quarterly meetings over the past three years, chaired by East Surrey Health Authority (HA) initially, and involving Merton Sutton and Wandsworth HA, South West London region. Surrey Oaklands formally declared its intention in March 2002 to close the unit in September 2002, but in July 2002, notified the South West Strategic HA that the closure had been deferred to allow more time for the service to be reconfigured.

All parties are fully aware of the impact that the withdrawal of South West London's funds would have on Woodside. Meetings are still held and are now chaired by East Surrey PCT, with the involvement of Wandsworth PCT and other stakeholders.