Breaking ground for new mental health hospital in Bexhill

A ground breaking ceremony took place on Tuesday 30 January on the site of a new mental health hospital in Bexhill, marking a major milestone for local NHS services.

At the same time, the 54-bed hospital on Mount View Street, Bexhill, was officially named Combe Valley – a name chosen by staff and service users.

Combe Valley Hospital has been developed by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) alongside NHS Sussex, the Integrated Care Board for Sussex, supported by significant input from local service users and staff.

Opening its doors during 2025, the new hospital will provide modern, high-quality care for people who may be experiencing serious mental health problems, emotional crisis, or severe distress which cannot be treated in the community. Continue reading →

Integrated service celebrates 10 years of supporting people’s independence

The Joint Community Rehabilitation team (JCR) has been celebrating their 10-year anniversary and taking a look back over what the service has achieved since it formed a decade ago.

This integrated service brings together NHS staff from East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and adult social care staff from East Sussex County Council into three teams across the county. They support adults who need short term support to regain their independence while remaining at home, for example by improving their strength and mobility or relearning skills after a hospital stay or illness. The teams include a wide range of professionals, like occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, social care workers, and rehabilitation support workers.

JCR forged a close working relationship between adult social care and the NHS several years before the formation of Integrated Care Systems, working in collaboration with a variety of community and hospital services.

JCR support approximately 10,000 clients a year. Here are some comments from former clients:

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Your top stories of 2023

As the year comes to a close we’ve taken a look back at our most read newsletter stories of the year, here they are if you’d like to revisit them!

A royal knees-up

In third place, hundreds of you were keen to read about the royal coronation events in East Sussex to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. From street parties and garden parties to Brit-Pop and crown decorating workshops, there was a huge range of events taking place. Social interaction is a great way to lift our mood and boost our wellbeing, which is a real positive for our health, so we hope you enjoyed the events.

Free forums for the over 50’s

On the theme of socialising and engaging in your community, our second most popular story was how you could join your nearest Older People’s Forum. There are eight forums in the county which are free to join and open to anyone over 50. The Forums are a perfect way to meet people, find out about activities, attend Older People’s Day events, or to just be better informed about issues that impact you, such as health and social care. The forums are always open to new members so it’s not too late to join if you’re interested: Get engaged in your community by joining an Older People’s Forum in your area.

A new state of the art diagnostic centre

And finally, our most popular story this year was the launch of the exciting new Community Diagnostic Centre in Bexhill, a state-of-the-art centre open 7 days a week. The centre offers a range of diagnostic and outpatient treatments that would normally be carried out in hospital. Services available at the centre include cardiac diagnostics, x-rays, echo-ECGs, ultrasound, lung function and phlebotomy, as well as MRI and CT scans on a rotational basis. You can watch a fascinating video about the work of the centre and how it’s reducing waiting times here: Bexhill Community Diagnostic Centre.

If you haven’t signed up to our monthly e-newsletter yet, you can subscribe on the County Council website.

Where to turn if you’re experiencing money worries

Money worries are stressful at any time of year but can feel extra difficult around the Christmas season. If you’re experiencing money worries, there is help out there and you’re not alone. You can find a range of information and resources that could help all in one place on the East Sussex County Council website.

Whether it’s where to get help with benefits and grants, where to seek information and advice on household bills, how to access food banks and other food services, or how to get mental health support if you need it, the pages cover all these topics and much more: Cost of living support.

Give the gift of time – it could make all the difference

Feeling lonely is challenging at any time of year but can feel particularly hard at Christmas time. People might also feel embarrassed to say they’re spending it alone or that they’re feeling lonely, but there’s no shame in these feelings. In fact, the best thing we can do is talk about it.

We can all help lift other people, and ourselves, out of loneliness by reaching out to those around us. Whether it’s making a phone call, sending a text, writing a card, or even chatting to the person standing next to us in the queue, it can all help. Giving the gift of your time to someone else, even for a quick cup of a tea and chat, could be one of the best presents you give this year – all for free.

If you’re feeling lonely yourself and you’re worried about reaching out, the person you contact may be feeling the same as you and your call might be the contact they needed too. We can never be sure of what someone else is going through.

Here are some other things you can do if you’d like to help someone else or if you’re feeling lonely yourself:

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Taking care of your emotional health in later life

If you’re over the age of 65 and you think about what it means to be healthy, your first thoughts might be to think about your physical health. Keeping up your strength and flexibility, looking after your diet, noticing new aches and pains, or perhaps managing any health conditions. But that’s really only half the picture. The other half, which is often overlooked, is your emotional health.

Emotional health is how we think and feel, how we manage our emotions, cope with life’s ups and downs, and our sense of wellbeing. As we age, we can encounter different things that impact on our emotional wellbeing, for example retirement, changes to our physical health, grief, or becoming a carer. Physical health and emotional health aren’t separate things, there’s a very close relationship between the two and they often interact with one another.

Many older people don’t seek support for their emotional health when they’re struggling, for example if you’ve been feeling sad, worried, or not yourself. This might be because you don’t think your problems are severe enough to warrant help, they’re seen as a normal part of ageing, or because of a fear of being judged.

It’s very important to know that struggling with emotional health isn’t something you need to just to accept, they’re not simply a part of getting older, and there are free services available that can help. It’s also very common, as data shows that more than six in 10 people in the UK aged 65 or over have experienced low mood or worry.

In this article we take a look at the links between emotional and physical health, the importance of looking after our emotional health, and the support that’s on offer.

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NHS Sussex calls on parents to know the signs and symptoms of RSV

The NHS in Sussex is encouraging parents and caregivers to look out for symptoms of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in young children, as cases are expected to increase over winter months.

RSV is often prevalent amongst young people during this time of year, and spreads easily via coughs and sneezes. Almost all children have had it by the time they are two-years old. In older children and adults, RSV may cause a cough or cold, but in young children it can cause bronchiolitis.

If the virus does cause bronchiolitis – a lower respiratory tract infection that in some cases can prove severe, especially for those under the age of two – it is best to know the signs and symptoms, and when you should seek further advice.

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Keep warm this winter with a Warm Home Check

As we head into the colder months, we know many people will be worrying about staying warm at home. High costs of living and high energy bills are a big concern, especially for those who already find it hard to heat their home and are on a low income.

The cold isn’t just uncomfortable but can be dangerous for those with pre-existing health issues such as heart and breathing conditions, or children who are asthmatic. It also can have a negative impact on your mental wellbeing.

If you need help to stay warm at home, the East Sussex Warm Home Check service provides free impartial energy advice and support and is available all year round. It helps you to improve the energy efficiency of your home meaning you can stay warm for less and reduce your home’s carbon emissions. As well as practical advice and resources, the service also provides help including heating repairs and small home improvements for those who are eligible.

If you, or someone you know, is concerned about staying warm this winter, find out more about the Warm Home Check service. You can apply by visiting the Keep Warm and Well website, texting WARM to 80011 or calling 0800 464 7307.

Don’t brush it under the carpet

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new campaign to improve mental wellbeing and raise awareness of self-harm and suicide in older people.

‘Don’t brush it under the carpet’ aims to reach and support older people who may be feeling depressed and alone and guide them to the right support. The campaign also aims to raise awareness of the issue of self-harm and older people, amongst carers, family members and health professionals to enable them to support someone they know who may be struggling.

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