THE health watchdog in North Yorkshire is to meet councillors from neighbouring councils to quiz commissioners about mental health services in the region.
A joint health overview and scrutiny committee, made up of councillors from North Yorkshire, Leeds and City of York councils will meet on February 15 to review proposals to scrap in-patient beds in the Harrogate area.
At a meeting of the North Yorkshire County Council scrutiny of health committee on December 14, proposals to reduce mental health in-patient bed numbers in Harrogate were considered.
Committee members were concerned about how the transition from in-patient care in Harrogate to community-based care in the area, with some in-patient care in York or Darlington, would be managed.
Cllr Jim Clark, chairman of NYCC scrutiny of health committee, said: “There are genuine concerns that the proposal to stop the development of a new mental health in-patient unit at Cardale Park in Harrogate, to close the beds at the Briary Wing at Harrogate District General Hospital and then move the money saved into community provision, may not have been fully thought through.
"We will seek assurances that the transition from in-patient to community care will be effectively managed and that beds are available for those who need them."
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