Date published: 21 July 2025
Mersey Care has extended its new physical health model of care, initially introduced to two of our mental health wards via a pilot approach, to three further wards to support the Trust's aim for whole person care.
The model was trialled initially on two of the mental health wards (Fern and Irwell) at Leigh Moss Hospital and Clock View Hospital. Following initial analysis, the pilot has now been extended to three more wards (Dunes, Albert and Morris) at Hartley Hospital, Broadoak Unit and Clock View Hospital.
The three wards were identified due to being those with increased transfers to local acute trusts over the previous six months. Dunes ward was key to inclusion within the pilot as it had the highest number of transfers to the acute trust, with a high degree of complexity of individuals with mental health problems and comorbidities.
The pilot is taking place across the north Mersey part of our region due to operability of our single point of contact service where all referrals are sent and decisions made as to the most appropriate place to treat the patient and our urgent care response service who will treat many of the patients referred. The model will ensure equal access to the most effective and safest care and treatment to our inpatients.
Once the model has been fully tested and evaluated, Mersey Care aims to roll it out to all inpatient wards across the Trust via a phased implementation, ahead of winter, to ensure we get the right care, to the right person, at the right time.
Our community physical health services, specifically urgent care, will provide these services and will significantly improve the physical health of our service users whilst in hospital.