Nottingham rehab unit campaign

The majority of service users, carers and staff attending a consultation meeting rejected Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust’s proposal to close a rehabilitation unit.

75 attended the meeting to discuss Broomhill House, a 12-bed rehabilitation unit which was reported as “an effective well run service that provides an excellent quality of care” by Care Quality Commissioners inspectors in 2014. The Trust are also proposing closure of an 18-bed unit in Mansfield which only opened in 2010.

The Trust structured the consultation to dissipate debate. A PowerPoint presentation for the whole audience was then to be discussed in small groups facilitated and recorded by Trust managers. The final straw came when staff were asked to join a separate group to discuss their particular concerns.

But the organisers were forced to back down and the debate was conducted with the entire group. This meant we gained confidence, clarity and solidarity from each other’s contribution. The PowerPoint informed us of the £22 billion cut to the NHS budget showing that the driving force for the proposals was to cut costs.

There was a call for people to join the Friends of Broomhill House campaign to save the unit and to link up with Mansfield campaigners.

Cathy Meadows, Nottingham Socialist Party