A BURTON doctor who speaks for GPs on mental health issues has refused to say if he agrees with the proposal to close the town’s Margaret Stanhope Centre.
Despite repeated questioning by the Mail, Carlton Street partner Dr John Cleary, a GP executive member of East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (ESCCG), and the GP mental health lead for South East Staffordshire, declined to indicate whether or not he agrees with health chiefs over their controversial plans, or their critics.
“Taking sides would not best reflect what my role is about,” he said.
Dr Cleary’s view is important because GP-led clinical commissioning groups, including ESCCG, which represents 19 GP practices serving 135,000 people, are due to replace primary care trusts when they are abolished at the end of March next year.
One organisation which will be disbanded is South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust, the group which has joined forces with South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to recommend the Margaret Stanhope’s closure.
“What I feel is that patients need high quality services in all aspects of health care — that’s what we are determined to provide,” said Dr Cleary.
“But of course, there are pressures on what we can provide. It’s important we get good value for money and that we are aware there’s not a bottomless pit of funding. What I would like to see is a system of mental health care, whereby, when it is in the best interests of patients to be looked after in the community, the services are up to it.
“Patients will still need to be admitted to hospital and the most poorly should always be admitted to hospital.”
He said ESCCG had sent a questionnaire to its GPs to discover their opinions about the care their patients had received from the community teams which health chiefs want to become the focus of care.
“We are trying to establish that the teams are robust and able to provide the care that patients need,” Dr Cleary said.
His refusal to give a view on the Stanhope’s fate has angered campaigners, including Burton’s Tory MP Andrew Griffiths.
“It’s essential those making the decision are held accountable for the choices they make,” he said.
“It’s vital we have absolute transparency in this process and that means knowing what decisions people are taking on our behalf and that includes doctors, board members and those employed by the PCT.
“We all have a right to know what people are doing on our behalf.”
