Reform grilled over threat to mental health service

CQC inspectors said the standard of care at St Andrew's Healthcare was unacceptable

A council has been asked to explain how it would deal with the fallout should the "unthinkable" happen and a county's largest specialist mental healthcare charity be forced to close down.

Last month St Andrew's Healthcare announced the termination of Workbridge, a support centre in Northampton for those with complex mental health needs.

The charity said the closure followed a thorough review of its services to form part of a broader plan to ensure St Andrew's Healthcare remained financially sustainable.

West Northamptonshire Council was asked how it would cope if St Andrew's closed in its entirety, with the Reform UK-controlled authority's leader stating he would "need to take advice".

A woman whose son has relied on the Workbridge service for 29 years said its closure was "horrific", and a petition calling for it to be saved has now attracted more than 7,600 signatures.

St Andrew's cares for about 600 patients and employs more than 4,000 people across four locations.

Workbridge has been operating for 45 years and will remain open until 23 December

Speaking at a full council meeting, Labour group leader Sally Keeble asked Mark Arnull what thought the council had given to the care and employment consequences of a potential closure of the whole St Andrew's service, and whether it could do anything to help.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she said there were "fears for St Andrew's as a whole".

"Some people say it is 'too big to fail', but it is very severely challenged and there are real concerns for people about their long-term employment and also, of course, about the care services," said Keeble.

"It would be really helpful if you would give a verbal assurance, as well as give the information in writing, as to what the council is doing."

In response, Arnull said: "We've asked our colleagues in council departments to look at options in which we can continue to support St Andrew's and, if possible, if not directly [then] indirectly, and I'm happy to write back to you what that looks like.

"St Andrew's is a private establishment, as we know, and I will need to take advice."

'Thorough review'

The closure of Workbridge came soon after St Andrew's Healthcare had its rating downgraded to "inadequate" by the Care Quality Commission.

Workbridge, which offers training sessions and work experience for people with mental illness, learning disabilities, autism and brain injuries, has been in operation for 45 years - but will close on 23 December.

A spokesperson for St Andrew's Healthcare said: "We have taken the difficult decision to close Workbridge and we have also consolidated some wards to improve patient care and hospital efficiency.

"These decisions follow a thorough review of our services.

"These plans form part of a broader strategy to ensure St Andrew's Healthcare remains financially sustainable and can focus on delivering specialist care for patients with complex mental health needs."