I'm 99% confident we'll replace Bootham Park, says new boss

• York's new head of mental health services says he hopes to re-open part of Bootham Park within months
• A new hotline has been set up for those affected by Bootham Park's sudden closure
• Mind have voiced concern
• 3,500 have now signed a petition calling for Bootham Park to be saved

THE new head of mental health services in York said he hopes to re-open part of Bootham Park Hospital for outpatients - and said he is "99 per cent confident" a brand new hospital can be built.

Martin Barkley, the chief executive of York and Selby's newly appointed mental health provider Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust (TEWV), said he is applying to have the hospital registered for use for the 400 outpatients in the York area who attend for appointments.

Having visited Bootham Park Hospital he is also applying to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to re-open Bootham Hospital's place of safety - a unit for vulnerable people detained by the police.

He said it is "unlikely inpatients will ever be cared for again at Bootham Park Hospital" - which closed its doors to patients on Wednesday - but his ambition is to have functioning temporary acute mental health wards in a number of locations in York up and running within three to six months before a new hospital can be built.

This will mean a number of patients transferred to acute psychiatric wards in Middlesbrough can be "repatriated" as soon as possible "I have worked in the health service for 43 years and what has happened is absolutely unprecedented," he said, "It's very concerning for a city the size of York and with the population of Selby to not have a facility. This needs to be sorted as soon as is humanly possible.

"The overwhelming number of people who have used Bootham Park up to yesterday were people going there for outpatient treatments. It seems the first priority is to get a better local solution and the ideal for me would be to get permission to reopen those facilities at Bootham Park.

"Then we need to reopen the place of safety. I understand it was well used and the inconvenience caused by its closure is high.

"The next is making sure service users know how to access services. We want to reassure staff. It has been a huge shock to staff, hundreds of people worked at Bootham Park Hospital."

The building of a new purpose built psychiatric hospital is then essential, he said. "I'm 99 per cent confident there will be a new hospital. I have worked in TEWV for seven years and we have built and opened two brilliant new hospitals and another three are unrecognisable from what they were."

Mr Barkley said he did not anticipate any job losses among staff and said there were a number of outstanding vacancies in the York area but he expected the situation would be reviewed next year "when the dust has settled".

Mr Barkley said NHS funding per head is less in North Yorkshire due to Government funding formulas. While York has the best funding in North Yorkshire, it receives less per head than Durham and Tees Valley.

TEWV took over running of service from the Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) from Thursday.

Almost 3,500 people have signed a Change.org petition to stop the closure of Bootham Park and fund an immediate refurbishment.

A NEW 24/7 hotline has been set up for people affected by the sudden closure of Bootham Park Hospital. 

The line will allow people in York and Selby to find out what is happening and where services are being provided.

It was announced by Martin Barkley, the chief executive of Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust, in a meeting with York Outer MP Julian Sturdy, pictured above.

Mr Sturdy said “I have been contacted by many constituents in recent days, and I want to reassure people that I share their concerns. The closure of the hospital has had a devastating impact on patients, their families and staff, and I will continue to do everything I can to help constituents who are directly affected by the closure.

“My number one priority remains the safety of patients, ensuring people receive the care and support they need. To that end I am pleased that the Trust has now set up a dedicated helpline, and I would encourage anyone with questions or concerns to get in touch.” 

Mr Sturdy said he has a follow up meeting with Mark Hayes, the chief clinical officer for the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group, and will be discussing the matter with the Minister of State for Health, Alistair Burt MP. 

The hotline number for information in York and Selby is 01904 610700.

THE chief executive of Mind has expressed serious concern at the closure of Bootham Park Hospital - and has urged politicians and NHS managers to learn lessons from the situation. 

Paul Farmer, pictured below, the chief executive of Mind and Alyson Scott, chief executive of York Mind, said in a joint statement that the implications of closing the hospital in five days were alarming.

They said: “The closure of Bootham Park Hospital will have an implication for localised mental health support and services including those delivered by York Mind. It’s absolutely essential that the CCG and the mental health trust prioritise patient care in these difficult circumstances so all concerned remain supported. 

“When you’re unwell in hospital and at your most vulnerable it’s vital that you receive quality care in a safe, therapeutic environment. People with mental health problems using services at Bootham Park Hospital have been hit doubly hard. 

“It’s really important that services are regularly inspected and robustly regulated. Commissioners, trusts and politicians should take note of what’s happened in York to help ensure that nobody else has to go through these kind of difficult circumstances again. Regardless of where you live, everyone who needs mental health services deserves to access quality, timely treatment.”

Mind’s advocacy service York Advocacy will be getting in touch with Acomb Garth and Cherry Tree and the Community Mental Health Teams to make contact with patients affected by the closure and ascertain if they would like advocacy support around their care and treatment and York Mind is offering service users, families, friends and carers an opportunity to feedback their views and ask questions by emailing bphcomments@yorkmind.org.uk