Mulholland calls on Council to postpone decision on future of Leeds Crisis Centre
February 8, 2011 12:15 PM
Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland has written to Councillor Keith Wakefield, the leader of the council and also to John Lawlor, the Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to further express the concerns he has with the planned closure of the Leeds Crisis Centre in Headingley. Greg has also tabled an EDM calling for the council to delay its decision on the future of the Centre.
Mulholland has written to Coucillor Wakefield, to follow up on the letter sent to Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, to urge members of the executive board to consider a deferral of the decision scheduled to be made on Friday 11th February 2011. Greg also highlights that the council have failed to sit down with the management of the centre to talk about ways in which the service could be delivered in a better and cheaper way. The letter also raises concerns with the report presented by the Director of Adult Social Care regarding the decision, which showed a lack of understanding of the unique service the Crisis Centre offers to the whole of Leeds.
In his letter to John Lawlor, Greg has urged the PCT to become involved in discussions with the council, about the best way to ensure that the unique service the centre provides is maintained in the city.
An EDM has also been tabled by Greg, calling on the council to delay its decision on the closure of the centre until a full impact and risk assessment, a complete audit of the Centre's financial commitments is undertaken and that Leeds City Council ensure that any feedback received from the staff, patients and other stakeholders are taken into consideration when deciding on the future of the Leeds Crisis Centre.
Greg commented:
"Whilst I understand that as a result of the current economic situation, Leeds City Council has to make reductions in spending, this however means doing things differently and more efficiently, not simply scrapping services that as a result, won't be provided at all
"I have written to Councillor Wakefield, raising a number of issues with the way in which the planned closure of the centre has been dealt with by the council. I have particularly highlighted claims in the report that the service offered by the centre is duplicated by other providers, this is simply not true. They have also failed to sit down with the management to discuss how the service could be delivered in a different and cheaper way, something the centre are adamant they can do. The council have failed to understand the vital service the Crisis Centre provides and this must be looked at again
"I have also written to the NHS Trust calling for their involvement in discussions about the future of the service provided by the centre. This could assist in ensuring that the unique service the centre provides secures a long term future in the city of Leeds."
Ends
EDM 1406
Future of The Leeds Crisis Centre
That this House recognises the unique service provided by Leeds Crisis Centre for people at times of acute personal crisis, and acknowledges the widespread local and national support from the service users, staff, GPs and other health professionals, and the actor Stephen Fry; notes that Leeds City Council Adult Social Care has proposed the immediate closure of the service; understands that, in the current economic situation, Leeds City Council is having to make reductions in spending; observes that the report produced by Leeds City Council officers is flawed, notably because it wrongly states that services are duplicated by other providers; further observes that no consultation was undertaken with the centre staff and service users, and no formal approach made to the primary care trust (PCT), GPs and mental health practitioners to discuss the impact of this decision on their work, or alternative models of provision; is concerned that the proposed closure is as a result of an artificial social care divide leaving the crisis centre solely council funded and would like to see a dialogue between the PCT and the Council to resolve this issue; considers that a full audit and examination of cost-saving measures must be undertaken prior to any final decision; and calls on Leeds City Council Executive Board to postpone making a decision forsix months and to undertake a full impact and risk assessment to consider the effect of any decision across communities in Leeds and to ensure a service like this is accessible across the city in the long term.
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