Tivyside | Archive | 2003 | January | 22
From the Tivyside Advertiser, first published Wednesday 22nd Jan 2003.
Hafan Hedd at Adpar, Newcastle Emlyn, is a "very well run" mental outreach service and yet it is undervalued by the community it serves.
This is spelt out in the findings of a vice-chairman of Ceredigion Community Health Council, Lyndon Lloyd, in a report on a visit he recently made to the facility.
His report was considered at the CHC's quarterly meeting at Lampeter on Monday.
Mr Lloyd reports that Hafan Hedd has features, which are unique within the Derwen NHS Trust services - such as a 'quiet room'.
"The staff are able and experienced, with a commendable sense of loyalty to the patients and the values of Hafan Hedd."
But he sounded a critical note in going on to state: "One has a feeling that the presence and contribution of this Teifi Valley centre is not fully valued by the community."
Patients were satisfied with the range of supports the centre provided. They had to be committed to the therapeutic values of the centre, which also provides links to housing and employment agencies. There were also other causes for concern.
Mr Lloyd goes on in his findings to state: "Some patients commented upon the 'frequent changes in doctors' within the services and the Derwen Trust should show some effort in providing stability in its psychiatric service.
"It was interesting to note that the centre serves an agricultural community but no farmers used its services for support despite many admissions to Teilo Ward (the psychiatric ward at Glangwili Hospital) from the farming community.
"An element of stigma still remains for mental illhealth."
Noting as well that the 1999 plan to move the centre to Cardigan had not been developed, he does not pull his punches any in adding: "It would be opposed."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008