Mental health services criticised

Whitchurch Hospital cannot meet modern mental health needs

A new report has highlighted staff shortages and poor facilities for mental health services in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

The report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists was commissioned by the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust - which runs the psychiatric services at Whitchurch Hospital in Cardiff and Sully Hospital near Barry.

The draft report warned that staffing levels were below the minimum level and that Whitchurch Hospital was inappropriate for modern mental health care.

Report welcomed

David Lewis, the trust's General Manager of mental health services, has welcomed the draft report.

Mr Lewis said it pinpointed what action needed to be taken and reflected a determination to improve the standard of services.

He denied that the report suggested a poor standard of care and praised the work of his staff.

Mr Lewis said a public consultation document will be published on Monday on the future of Sully Hospital.

'Lack of facilities'

The trust also hopes to secure a substantial slice of the additional funding for health that is being made available by the Assembly.

Jerry Moreton, the Chairman of the Cardiff Community Health Council said the CHC agreed with many of the reports findings.

"We have a lack of staff, a lack of facilities and the whole thing is in a constant state of crisis," he said.

"This CHC has found that the standard of service - in Cardiff in particicular - has been less than adequate for some time."