No Mersey treatment for depressed mothers

May 5 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

NEW mothers with severe post- natal depression in Merseyside and Cheshire have to travel to Manchester for treatment, or risk being separated from their babies, it has emerged.

Campaigners says services for women with the condition have not improved in the region in the last decade and believe vulnerable mothers are being put at risk. Very severe cases of the condition can lead to psychosis, and NICE guidelines state these patients should be treated in a dedicated facility with their babies – the closest being at Wythenshawe Hospital, in Manchester.

Campaigner Elaine Hanzak, who was diagnosed with post- natal depression 11 years ago, claims the North West is falling short in the number of beds it provides, and needs more dedicated services, not just for those with severe problems but also for women who can be treated within the community.

Very severe cases are rare, affecting one in 500 women, and local NHS bodies say admission is a last resort, being only one aspect of the service they provide.

Former teacher, Mrs Hanzak, who now lives in Helsby, dedicates most of her time to helping mothers with the condition, which occurs in 10-15% of mothers. She said: “I currently spend a lot of time with mothers who are suffering and things have not changed, facilities have not moved forward that far.

“In the North West, there are only 10 mother and baby beds, and sometimes patients end up on general psychiatric wards without their baby. There are more mother and baby beds in prisons than in the whole of the UK.

“Resources are vastly under-funded and you end up with ladies in the Liverpool area being shipped over to Manchester – if there is room.

“Mothers should not have to leave their home towns to gain treatment, it makes the pain of this condition worse. They need their families close by.”

Mrs Hanzak also believes more funding to help prevent the condition escalating is needed, and is working with health care professionals in the area to help improve services and set up a clinical network.

Despite Mrs Hanzak’s concerns, she says there are pockets of good practice that should be highlighted and used as an example.

Most PCTs provide services for women with mild or moderate post-natal depression, and GPs and health workers assess new mothers for signs of the condition.

If patients develop more severe symptoms, they are referred to the local mental health trust.

A spokesman for Mersey Care NHS Trust, which provides specialist mental health services in Liverpool and Sefton, said: “If the GP feels the patient needs further intervention, she would be referred to the Mersey Care NHS Trust community mental health team for support.

“In the event that the community team feels unable to manage the patient in the community, or she needs more intensive care, then a meeting would be held with the patient, her carers, social services and other professionals about the best place for the woman to receive treatment. Admission to in-patient services could be a possibility.

“If more intensive care is deemed necessary, further discussions would take place, and the woman and her baby could be admitted to the mother and baby specialist mental health unit in Manchester.”

A spokesman for Cheshire and Wirral Partnership says admissions to this unit are rare, and added: “It’s very unlikely that the Manchester unit is ever full, given the rarity of admissions.

“Admissions are rare because in the last few years Home Treatment Teams have been used to care for individuals.

“Patients are only admitted to general mental health wards if it will decrease the risk to them or their baby; this is an uncommon occurrence.”

And Sandra Jackson, head of Knowsley Primary Care mental health service, said mothers can gain help at an early stage of pregnancy in the borough.

She said: “We currently offer a range of support services for mothers suffering from peri- or post-natal depression which can be made available from as early on as an expectant mother’s first hospital appointment.

“A variety of health professionals who come into contact with expectant or new mums have received training courses on post-natal depression to ensure it can be identified quickly and the appropriate support offered, which includes one to one and group therapy.”

A spokesman for Liverpool PCT added: “There has been investment in crisis resolution and home treatment services to ensure that where possible service users can be cared for in their own homes. In-patient admission is a last resort.

“Liverpool PCT are also investing in improving access to psychological interventions with a new contract being in place in September.”

Clinic set up to help mothers > > >