Anger over refusal to reverse Tolworth Hospital bed closures
9:30am Sunday 12th February 2012 in Where I Live By David Lindsell
Wanda Higman (front), Margaret Faris, Alan Moss and Victor Cuthbert
Campaigners have criticised Tolworth Hospital’s refusal to reverse a decision to close inpatient mental health beds.
The hospital, in Red Lion Road, sparked fury after it emptied several wards and moved patients to other sites in London.
Women are being temporarily treated in Ladbroke Grove, North London, while men are being sent to Springfield Hospital in Tooting.
Reverend Victor Cuthbert, of the mental health forum, said: “These cuts are devastating news for Kingston families struck by mental illness.
“Family support can be critical for recovery but the closure of wards at Tolworth Hospital will make it much harder for families to stay in close contact with hospitalised relatives.”
Kingston Mental Health Carers’ Forum has also called on South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust (SWLSTG), which runs the hospital, to bring back any wards that have been emptied.
Ian Wilson, interim chief executive of SWLSTG, said last month Tolworth Hospital did not have a future as an inpatient facility but there was no strategy to close it.
The trust claimed patients and carers had been consulted over the closures, which will end mixed-sex wards.
Wanda Higman, 58, a former civil servant from Kingston, said she understood why mixed-sex wards were undesirable, but said: “They should have found us a solution that did not involve the families of mentally ill people having to travel halfway across London whenever they want to see them.”
A spokesman for SWLSTG said: “The current interim changes were made following discussion and agreement with partners and other stakeholders, including patient and carer representatives.
“The final provision of the service will be subject to public consultation later this year.”
Children of elderly dementia sufferers of Fuchsia ward have already expressed their anger at the news of likely bed closures.
Tony from Surbiton says...
1:59pm Wed 15 Feb 12