HEALTH chiefs are backing Leigh Infirmary as the prime mental health site.

Discussions are underway to help finalise future mental health care plans in the area, with Leigh pencilled-in as the best one-site location.

Following announcements of the closure of the Billinge Hospital mental health department, transfer proposals are being debated - with opinions on options invited.

Billinge mental health in-patients department will be first to go, but officials say open consultations will come first.

Chief Commissioner of Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, Brenda O'Driscoll says the move from Wigan to Leigh will benefit both patients and staff.

She said:"Our existing Mental Health Service needs modernising, as Wigan has previously been criticised by the Mental Health Act Commission for being very old-fashioned.

"Patients who are admitted for mental reasons need accommodation for a very long time, much longer than normal patients who are usually out within a week.

"Much more dignified facilities are needed with activities to help patients' rehabilitation through workshops and occupational therapy.

"Billinge is a hospital more in keeping with the old attitude where mental patients were bound by stigma and the 'out of sight, out of mind' view. We want to get away from this to provide a much more modern system of treatment.

"The Leigh site would have much more modern facilities. Most mental health treatment is community based now, and includes clinics and home visits.

"The number of people who need to stay in hospital is much lower than it was. Transferring beds to Leigh will mean more accommodation in private bays, and the end of the 24 beds in a row scenario."

She added: "Leigh is part of our future strategy and is the evidence of a long term future for the Borough. As there are a smaller number of people in hospital we need to be bringing the scarce skills that we have together. The general improvement will be very dramatic.

"We feel all the improvements should also help our very dedicated staff with better working conditions."

If consultations are successful changes will begin in October.

But other Billinge facilities, including maternity and gynaecology, will remain there for at least another ten years.

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