BEDS for mental health patients would be provided in Aberystwyth, but dedicated inpatient care would still be out of Ceredigion under proposals for a major shake-up of mental health services across the Hywel Dda Health Board area.

The health board is preparing to go out to consultation on proposals to improve services, including a 24-hour service and new community mental health centres established in each of the counties in the board area.

But while the options include a plan for a small number of ‘crisis and recovery’ beds, full inpatient care would still be provided in Carmarthen, with Ceredigion patients having to travel.

The proposals, which have been drawn up after the health board spent months meeting with patients, staff, families and mental health groups, are aimed at ensuring that services across the health board are consistent and provide adequate support and assistance for patients, mainly in a community setting.

The plan says that there is a greater emphasis on services being provided in the community to ensure patients don’t need to be admitted to hospital.

One of the biggest changes would be the introduction of CMHCs, with four facilities planned – one in Ceredigion, one in Pembrokeshire and two in Carmarthenshire. Aberystwyth has been identified as the location for the Ceredigion CMHC.

Those centres would be open 24 hours a day and would be available for patients to seek emergency assistance in crisis situations, as well as providing outpatient services, therapies, treatment and support.

But they would also provide a small number of beds that could be used short-term for patients who don’t need hospital treatment, but need some form of assistance.

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