When it plans to respond to the proposal by West Lothian Health Care NHS Trust and West Lothian Council with regard to the building of a ne…

NHS Lothian's Mental Health Strategy proposes a major shift from hospital to community-based health care, which would see a reduction in the number of mental illness continuing care beds in West Lothian. NHS Lothian and its planning partners propose to build a substantial network of community services, which would include community psychiatric nursing, supported accommodation services and intensive home treatment services.A Criteria Submission for the development of a Mental Health After Care Service has been submitted to the Scottish Executive for approval. The proposal is for a joint service established by West Lothian Healthcare Trust and West Lothian Council, which combines care for this client group with the more dependant residents of a residential home at the cost of £3.4 million capital. The Criteria Submission is currently being circulated. It is anticipated that a response will be sent to the Trust within the next month.