What’s happened since the closure of Archways? An update report

In September 2016, Healthwatch York produced a report on the closure of Archways, a 22-bed community unit in York, designed to help stop people going into hospital and to help them leave hospital earlier. They had made a few recommendations for future service changes which were accepted by the boards.

In May 2019, Healthwatch York produced an updated report to follow what had happened since the closure of Archways. They report of alternative services being provided through York Community Response Team (CRT), Community Discharge Liaison Team, Advanced Clinical Practitioners and Outreach Pharmacists. They also report on a case study provided by the York CRT and on their performance, on Home First engagement project and the key concerns identified by the public. The report considers the NHS Long Term Plan and how it will focus on people out of hospital as far as possible. It also provides a commentary on how the services need to develop to meet future needs considering the predicted growth in number of older people and those with complex health needs.

The updated report provides further recommendations to all health and social care commissioners, providers and leaders in York and stresses the importance of consulting and engaging with the public at the earliest stage possible for all future service changes; to make sure patients/families/carers understand what is happening at discharge; continue to monitor concerns and feedback around provision of services; report on how the additional funding freed up from Archways, which was not spent on Home First, was spent; and work with other sectors to address non-healthcare issues such as social isolation.