1. Purpose of the report and policy context

1.1 This report presents information on Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) plans to temporarily close Chalkhill Hospital, an inpatient acute unit for young people located in Hayward’s Heath. The temporary closure will enable SPFT to redesign the clinical service model for the hospital, to recruit staff, and to make physical improvements to the building

1.2 Additional information, provided by SPFT, is included as Appendix 1.

2. Recommendations

2.1 Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee notes the contents of this report.

3. Context and background information

3.1 Chalkhill delivers a Tier 4 General Adolescent Unit inpatient mental health service (CAMHS). Chalkhill is run by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) and is a 12-bedded mixed gender inpatient unit where children and young people are admitted if they require assessment and treatment for acute mental health needs. The unit is located in the grounds of the Princess Royal Hospital, Hayward’s Heath.

3.2 In October 2023 Chalkhill was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and the CQC’s inspection report made a number of recommendations for improvement. Subsequently, SPFT has sought to implement these recommendations, alongside internally identified improvement actions. The CQC carried out a further unannounced inspection in August 25 and raised concerns regarding patient safety. Due to lack of sustained improvement, the Trust made the decision to temporarily close Chalkhill

3.3 The temporary closure will allow the trust to undertake the following activities:

· Redesign the clinical model to ensure the clinical offer is suitable to meet the needs of the children and young people who require inpatient care, following changes in overall acuity and in clinical presentation taking into account national and regional best practice

· Recruit to key clinical leadership roles including the Consultant Psychiatrist / Responsible Clinician and Nurse Consultants

· Complete a programme of organizational development for the new leadership team once recruitment has been completed.

· Undertake estates work to improve the inpatient environment of Chalkhill to ensure it reflects the needs of the patient group

3.4 The trust has made additional investments in community services to enhance opportunities to treat young people at home while Chalkhill is closed. For young people who do require inpatient admission, SPFT is able to place into young people’s units in Surrey, Hampshire and Kent and the processes of bed searching remain unchanged. The nearest unit for people from Brighton & Hove is located at Horley on the Surrey/Sussex border. No young people will be placed on adult wards.

3.5 At the time of writing Chalkhill currently has 3 young people admitted. There are detailed clinical plans in place to support either community discharge or transfer to another inpatient unit as required by the proposed closure date in early December 2025.

3.6 There is currently no date set for Chalkhill to reopen. The reopening will be dependent on planned building works and recruitment to key clinical roles. However, SPFT has been clear that the closure is temporary, and it fully intends to reopen. It is anticipated that bed numbers in the refreshed unit will be similar to current levels, although the details of this will be determined by the new clinical model. Given the uncertainty about the re- opening date, current Chalkhill staff will be permanently rather than temporarily redeployed across other clinical services

3.7 SPFT has begun engagement with staff and service users. There will be further engagement with service users to develop the refresh plans, using co-design principles.

3.8 More information, provided by SPFT, is included as Appendix 1.

4. Analysis and consideration of alternative options

4.1 Not relevant for this information report.

5. Community engagement and consultation

5.1 None directly undertaken for this information report.

6. Financial implications

6.1 None identified for this information report.

Name of finance officer consulted: Ishemupenyu Chagonda Date consulted: 10/11/25

7. Legal implications

7.1 The Council’s Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee has statutory responsibility for reviewing and scrutinising matters relating to the planning, provision and operation of health services in Brighton & Hove. As a result, it is the correct body to scrutinize the changes to healthcare provision described in this Report.

Name of lawyer consulted: Victoria Simpson Date consulted 11/11/2025

8. Equalities implications

8.1 None directly for this information report.

9. Sustainability implications

9.1 None identified.

10. Health and Wellbeing Implications:

10.1 These are addressed in the body of the report.

Other Implications

11. Procurement implications

11.1 None identified.

12. Crime & disorder implications:

12.1 None identified.

13. Conclusion

13.1 Members are asked to note SPFT plans to temporarily close Chalkhill hospital in order to refresh the clinical model, recruit additional staff and make physical improvements to the unit.

Supporting Documentation

Appendices

1. Information provided by SPFT