James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, has welcomed today’s important visit by the Shadow Minister for Health, Anne Milton MP, to the recently redeveloped Rochford Hospital.
Anne is in the area for a fact-finding tour to look into the services that local people with mental health problems have access to. As well as a tour of Rochford Hospital – accompanied by local councillors Gill Lucas-Gill, James Cottis and Rochford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Health Lesley Butcher – Anne was shown around Basildon Hospital along with Stephen Metcalfe, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock.
Throughout the day Anne was shown around by Dr Patrick Geoghegan, Chief Executive of the South Essex Partnership NHS Trust – the man behind the redevelopment of Rochford Hospital and the broader success of the Partnership as a whole in recent years.
Anne has a background in caring for those with mental illness and was impressed by the facilities at Rochford Hospital. She discussed with Dr Geoghegan and Dr Eunan Macintyre, Director of Inpatient & Emergency Services, how changes in procedure and treatment at the hospital have allowed for improved care while reducing the need for patients to spend extended periods with the unit.
Speaking today, James said:
“I was very pleased to introduce Anne Milton, the Shadow Minister for Health, to the team at Rochford Hospital this morning. She was very impressed with the new mental health wards and the level of care that patients receive.
“It’s extremely important that people who suffer with mental health problems receive a high level of professional attention and support. The Shadow Minister’s visit today was extremely important to help her understand the particular issues that the South Essex Partnership Trust are faced with and how they go about addressing them.”
Stephen Metcalfe, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock, also commented:
“I was very impressed with what has been achieved here in Basildon, the rapid response to patient needs and the desire to help those with mental illness back in to the community as quickly as appropriate has to be welcomed. There is a stigma surrounding mental illness and anything that can be done to break down that prejudice and help them back into the wider community is excellent.
“This is often an area of healthcare that is overlooked, but can have devastating consequences on people’s lives. The approach adopted here allows for treatment at the same time as helping patients maintain connections with the wider community, it really has paid dividends. Working with patients as opposed to just for them has help people return home more quickly and often keep them in employment which can have so many positive benefits – long may their excellent work continue.”
17 June 2008