Council and democracy

Current Work in Progress

Service changes were agreed through the Investing In Your Mental Health consultation with the objective of caring for as many people as possible within Hertfordshire and whenever possible within their home environment.

As a result of the above all major contracts with providers outside Hertfordshire are being reviewed and where potential to develop and improve services locally and more effectively exist, this is being followed through. The benefits being:

• Management of patient care would be the responsibility of one Trust ensuring continuity of care.

• Better care co-ordination between the local NHS services, the county and local District Councils, and with the non-statutory sector.

• Inpatient and day hospital services would be more integrated with community services so that more seamless care can be provided.

• Cost savings can be re-invested locally.

• There could be access to services not currently available, such as to the age inclusive services provided by the adult mental health teams in Hertfordshire Partnership Trust through their Community Assessment and Treatment Teams or Assertive Outreach Teams.

• By providing more robust and better integrated community services more people will be able to receive assessment and treatment within the community without the need to be admitted to inpatient care.