A NEW option is on the table for mental health care in east Cheshire – and it would address a major concern for patients.

NHS Eastern Cheshire, South Cheshire and Vale Royal clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) – the organisations that buy healthcare in the area – have revealed the final decision that governors will face at a crunch meeting on the future of Macclesfield’s Millbrook Unit.

The unit will close as expected – and inpatient beds for older people and dementia patients will be moved to Lime Walk House, in Macclesfield.

But instead of moving adults’ mental health beds to Chester as previously expected – the CCGs could now decide to move them to Lime Walk House too.

Dr Paul Bowen, chairman of Eastern Cheshire CCG, Dr Jonathan Griffiths, chairman of Vale Royal CCG, and Dr Andrew Wilson, chairman of South Cheshire CCG, have released a joint statement on the proposals – which have been published today in the three groups’ ‘decision-making’ business case.

It said: “We have been giving full consideration to public feedback during the three-month consultation.

“In order to minimise the impact of additional travel for inpatient care, the decision-making business case outlines an amended option for consideration.

“This addresses many of the concerns raised and heard throughout the consultation and also continues to meet the ambitions outlined within the case for change.

“This option is identified as the preferred way forward, and it – together with the original option – will be considered by the governing bodies in making their decision on November 22.”

In the business case for next week’s decision, health chiefs claim that potentially 260 patients would be forced to travel to Chester if the original plans are approved – compared to a ‘negligible travel impact’ from the new option.

However, patients with more complex needs that require rehabilitation would have to travel to Bowmere in Chester, rather than Soss Moss in Nether Alderley.

Cheshire East Council members have previously raised concerns about plans to move beds to Chester – and the authority’s own social care workers would be affected by that original option.

At a meeting in September, Cllr Liz Durham, Conservative, said: “One of the things that was mentioned was that ‘care has to be close to home’ – well you’re not going to be cared for close to home if you have to travel that far.

“That’s what really, really worries me.”

The changes will be made to fund major improvements to mental health care for all patients aged 18 or over in the Cheshire East borough, plus Northwich and Winsford.

Thirty full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs will be funded in community mental health support, plus eight FTE positions in home treatment rapid response and two roles in the dementia outreach team.

Patients will also benefit from increased access to therapy, plus 24-hour access to crisis services and beds in the community.

The new option would require an additional £730,000 from NHS budgets – although the CCGs would still make a saving of £500,000 over their current spend.

In October, Clare Watson, chief operating officer at NHS South Cheshire and Vale Royal CCGs, said: “This is about an improved offer in the community.

“We are trying to reduce the number of people who need to go into an inpatient facility with an improved, all-new crisis offer, and all of the other redesigned services in the community.”

A decision will be made at a meeting of the three CCG’s governors in Congleton Town Hall next Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, a Cheshire East Council scrutiny committee will also discuss the plans next Thursday morning, with feedback due to be sent to the CCGs while the Congleton meeting takes place.

Any feedback on the plans from members of the public can be sent by email to ecccg.generalenquiries@nhs.net or by calling 01625 663477.