3rd October 2006 Letter from Dr Simon Donovan to Barrie Crosbie seeking clarification

Dear Mr Crosbie,
I have become aware of the plan for Partners in Care to open a forensic mental health unit in Goytre on the site of the previous Brain Injury Unit.

I am a local GP and my son attends Goytre Fawr school. Whilst I am an advocate for mental health I do have some concerns that are related to the forensic element.

I would like to enquire as to how Partners in Care are able to satisfy the local residents and school that a full assessment of the risk to the community has been undertaken?

Has there been a formal risk assessment for the application for change of use to HIW?

If so is the available in the public domain?

I know that you will have produced a detailed business plan that would have taken into account the staffing / risk / patient type etc. I would be grateful if you could send a copy to me or direct me to a link via the web.

I would also like clarification as to the use of this unit - I have had various different possibilities put to me.

Could you clarify what kind of patient is going to be housed at the unit - ie the type of offence / mental problems / stability etc?

The type of patient housed at the unit is crucial for the local community (and me) to assess the risk we feel this unit will pose.

My understanding is that these patients will be on a section whilst serving a sentence handed out in court - in affect the unit is a prison for those will a mental illness.
What restrictions on movement are placed on these patients and what are the arrangements for those that wander off from the unit.

I feel that this is a more serious matter in Goytre than llanarth court given the proximity to a large population / school / pub etc.

Clearly procedures will need to be different for Aderyn than Llanarth Court. It is a case of when rather than if a patient "wanders off" as recent months have shown us both with your unit and Prescoed.

Finally could you inform me of the anticipated start date that patients will be housed at the unit?

I believe that this will be dependant on the change of use being granted by HIW.
I would appreciate an early response to this E mail and would be happy to meet with you and discuss these issues further.
Dr Simon Donovan