Tessa Jowell MP

Tessa Jowell has welcomed a huge breakthrough in plans to redevelop King's Emergency Department.

The multi-million pound plans, which were the subject of a consultation in the early part of 2009 will now be changed to provide a designated space for mental-health patients. This is exactly what Tessa called for in her submission to the consultation (click on the image below to see the full text of Tessa's letter).

Tessa commented: 'I am absolutely delighted that the concerns of local users and local representatives now look set to be incorporated into the final plans for the Emergency Department.

'I pay tribute to local health service providers for taking forward this consultation in an open and accountable manner.

'I am now looking forward to seeing the revised plans.'

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Previously:

Tessa Jowell has given her views in a consultation over the future of King's College Hospital Emergency Department.

You can read her submission by clicking on the image to the right. 

Whilst welcoming many aspects of the plans for a multi-million pound investment, Tessa raised concerns over arrangements for dealing with mental-health patients in the Emergency Department.

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Previously:

Following a meeting today (February 27th) involving King's College Hospital, Southwark PCT, Lambeth PCT and the South London and Maudsley, the three south London parliamentary colleagues who attended the meeting: Tessa Jowell MP, Harriet Harman MP and Kate Hoey MP (pictured) have released the following statement:

“The 'creation of a designated space at King's College Hospital, adjacent to A&E, which will provide a safe and segregated area for mental health service users who require assessment' was what the Secretary of State for Health demanded in January 2007 in order to approve the closure of the Maudsley Emergency Clinic.

“That was the commitment given and that is the commitment that we intend to ensure is delivered to provide a service within King's Emergency Department that recognises the distinctive needs of long-term mental health users for safety, sanctuary, quiet and support during a period of distress or crisis.

“Health planners must use the wisdom and experience of organisations like MIND and engage with mental health users in the current consultation so that the huge investment in the Emergency Department delivers a service of the highest quality and a fitting replacement to the Maudsley Emergency Clinic.

“We very much welcome the constructive spirit of the meeting today which, we hope, has put us in a position from which it will be possible to deliver the sort of service that every local health service user needs and deserves.”

[ENDS]

Photographs courtesy of Harriet Harman MP's office