Henderson Hospital Closure Plan Short sighted - Burstow

12.00.00am GMT Mon 17th Dec 2007

Plans to close the Henderson Hospital in Sutton have been slammed as short sighted by local MP, Paul Burstow. The MP is seeking a meeting with Health Ministers and NHS London officials to discuss how the future of a highly regarded and pioneering specialist mental health service can be secured.

The Henderson does intensive work with people who have a moderate or severe personality disorder. The patients have enduring emotional and behavioural problems which can involve them harming themselves or others.

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of the unorthodox treatment used at the Henderson Hospital, which allows patients to take responsibility for running the psychiatric care service themselves alongside staff. The approach has been shown to be both cost and clinically effective. It reduces psychological symptoms and distress and decreases rates of self-harm and psychiatric readmission.

A year ago, the hospital received national funding, and had a six-month waiting list. But then changes to the way the NHS commission's services led to the funding passing to local NHS trusts, and referrals dried up. Henderson Hospital is one of only two such specialist hospitals in the country, and so it's closure will affect thousands of patients from many areas.

Commenting, Paul Burstow MP said:

"In less than a year the Henderson has gone from having a sustainable future to being earmarked for closure. Theraputic services like those offered by the Henderson are scarce in the NHS, they make a real difference to people with personality disorders. This is a shortsignted and penny pinching decision by NHS bosses which lets down some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

Ministers cannot hide behind local decision-making, the guidance on specialist commissioning is meant to safeguard services like the Henderson. It is time Ministers acted to protect this Cinderella service."