Public urged to have their say over plans to close mental health services in town

We have been reporting in The Mail on how the services are set to move out of the town to Wigston, causing concern among some users and the town’s MP Sir Edward Garnier.

The service provides mental health care and treatment for around 450 working-age service users, including people with enduring mental health needs, and treatment for people who can benefit from specialist care over a time-limited period.The Trust plans to move the Market Harborough team from their current base at the Welland Centre on Fernie Road to a shared administration base at The Cedars Centre, in Wigston.

Outpatient and clinic appointments are set to move from The Welland Centre to two alternative sites in the centre of Market Harborough – the Symington Building on Adam and Eve Street, and Moins Chemist on Coventry Road. The changes are being proposed because the Welland Centre, which is leased by the Trust, is considered no longer fit for purpose.

Jules Galbraith, head of community, prison and learning services at LPT explained: “The proposed relocation of the service will improve the experience of patients, their carers, and LPT staff.

“The Welland Centre does not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. Clinic and group therapy rooms are provided on the first floor of the centre, which has no lift to provide safe access for people with disabilities. This means we cannot always ensure the privacy and dignity of people who use the service, either in accessing or evacuating the building.

“The waiting room has limited space which can make it difficult for people to have private conversations.

“These rooms would require significant work to provide the quality of care and clinical facilities we want to provide both now and into the future.”

People who are seen at home by the team will be unaffected by the planned changes and people who live closer to Wigston will be offered the choice of appointments at The Cedars Centre.

Eventually Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) aims to transfer the clinics to modern facilities at St. Luke’s Hospital once work is completed on the hospital’s £7.5 million development,

LPT has launched an engagement programme around the plans which runs until July 15.

The rationale for the changes is outlined in an engagement document which is available from The Welland Centre. It’s available to download from www.leicspart.nhs.uk - the document includes a feedback form which can be returned to the Trust by post.

There are a number of other ways to provide feedback:

Attending one of two public engagement events:

Monday, June 27

10am-noon Cedars Centre, Cedar Avenue,Wigston, LE18 2LA

Monday July 4

10am-noon, Welland Centre, 1 Fernie Road, Market Harborough LE16 7PH

Or by filling in a printed feedback form available from The Welland Centre and The Cedars Centre in Wigston or on request by emailing [email protected] using the subject line Market Harborough mental health moves.

Electronic feedback forms can also be downloaded from www.leicspart.nhs.uk

Or fill it in online at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Harboromove

Comments can also be made via email to [email protected] (Please use the subject line Market Harborough mental health moves).