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The Rt Revd George Cassidy, Retired Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, will pay a flying visit back to the diocese this month when he comes to open a new mental health suite at Nottingham’s QMC, which has been named after him in recognition of his work in lobbying for improved care for the mentally ill. A brand new assessment suite which will provide a ‘place of safety’ for vulnerable adults detained by the police under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, will be officially opened on 21 September 2009 at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. The police have powers under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act to detain people who appear to be acutely mentally unwell in a public place and who are considered to potentially be a risk to themselves or others. Until now there has been no option but to take these people to a custody suite, even though they may have committed no offence at all. Garry Bevis, Service Manager, Acute Care, Nottinghamshire Healthcare, which manages the service, said: “People detained under Section 136 can be extremely vulnerable, may be unwell and require health and social care including assessment by experienced professionals in a suitable environment. We are delighted that with our new suite we will be able to provide this much needed service.” It is hoped to assess most people brought to the suite within four hours. A decision will then be taken as to whether to admit the person to hospital, recommend a treatment pathway or discharge them home. The Cassidy Suite, which is located on A Floor, South Block at the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, is named in recognition of The Right Reverend George Cassidy, Retired Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, who has supported the cause and championed the need for such a facility to be provided in Nottingham. He has been personally committed to raising standards nationally and has twice raised the issue in the House of Lords, as well as assisting locally in ensuring that the new unit is adequately resourced. The Right Reverend George Cassidy, said: “There is a lot of stigma attached to mental health issues and as Christians I believe we should work to get rid of that. There has been a lot of hard work over the years at many different levels and this new project is a good example of how if people work together we see good outcomes for very vulnerable people. It is great to see Nottinghamshire is leading the way in this.” One other 136 assessment facility exists for people in North Nottinghamshire, based at King’s Mill Hospital. This facility has demonstrated that assessments are completed faster when carried out in the Mental Health Unit as well as providing a less intimidating environment. The Cassidy Suite will serve Nottingham City and the south of the county. There will be 12 staff, with two on duty at all times. When not required in the suite, they will provide support to the adjacent mental health wards to enhance the provision of care on those wards. The provision of The Cassidy Suite has been welcomed by the Trust, Commissioners, Social Services and Police, and complies with the latest national guidance in terms of the design of the unit, the staffing and monitoring it provides. Refurbishment has cost £330,000 and funding was provided by NHS Nottingham City.
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