Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee
Subject: Update on changes to city acute in-patient dementia bed provision
Date of meeting: 09 July 2025
Report of: Chair of the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee
Contact Officer: Name: Giles Rossington, Scrutiny Manager
Tel: 01273 295514
Email: giles.rossington@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Ward(s) affected: (All Wards);
Key Decision: No
1.1 In September 2024, the HOSC considered Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) plans to reconfigure its acute in-patient mental health beds within the city. The plans included closing 10 acute in-patient dementia beds at Mill View Hospital; reconfiguring the space to provide an additional 15 acute mental health beds; and enhancing East Sussex community dementia services.
1.2 At the September 2024 meeting, HOSC members requested an update on implementation of these changes at a subsequent meeting, to specifically include the experiences of staff and carers and an assessment of any impact of the changes on social care or on the residential care sector. SPFT will present on these issues at the HOSC meeting.
2.1 That Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee note the contents of this report.
3.1 Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) provides mental health services across Sussex, operating in both community and acute settings. The majority of SPFT services are commissioned by the Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB). SPFT and the ICB identified an opportunity to improve access to acute mental health care for the City's population and to make financial efficiencies by reconfiguring Trust acute in-patient beds at Mill View Hospital (MVH) in Hangleton.
3.2 Brunswick Ward at MVH was a 10 bed mixed gender unit providing specialist in-patient dementia care. Demand for beds at Brunswick from Brighton & Hove residents was historically very low and the majority of patients supported there were typically East or West Sussex residents. Brighton & Hove, with a young population coupled with robust community dementia services, typically has low levels of demand for acute dementia beds, but very high demand for adult acute mental health beds. In contrast, there is higher demand for dementia services in East and West Sussex, reflecting their older demographics.
3.3 SPFT’s plan was to close Brunswick Ward, re-purposing the space as a 15 bed acute mental health ward using capital funding secured via NHS England - with a focus on improvements within the urgent care pathway. City residents requiring dementia beds would be admitted to specialist dementia inpatient provision at Trust provision in Worthing or Uckfield. There would also be investment in East Sussex community dementia services, with a focus on improving services which reduce acute admissions.
3.4 Brunswick Ward has now been closed, and the space has been re-purposed to provide a female acute mental health space, Palmeira Ward, which opened in May 2025. More information on implementation of the change plans and on the emerging data from the new services will be provided by SPFT at the HOSC meeting.
4.1 Not relevant to this report for information.
5.1 None directly for this information report.
6.1 No direct financial implications from this information report.
Name of finance officer consulted: I . Chagonda Date consulted (30/06/25):
7.1 No legal implications have been identified in this Report, which is for noting only.
Name of lawyer consulted: Victoria Simpson Date consulted 30.06.25
8.1 As this is a report for information rather than decision there are no implications to report.
9.1 As this is a report for information rather than decision there are no implications to report.
10. Health and Wellbeing Implications:
10.1 As this is a report for information rather than decision there are no implications to report.
11. Procurement implications
11.1 None identified.
12. Crime & disorder implications:
12.1 None identified
13.1 Members are asked to note Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s information updating the committee on the implementation of plans to reconfigure city acute mental health beds (originally considered by the HOSC in September 2024).