1.25 LRO made a case for the transfer of mental health services from Ashford to West Middlesex in 2000. This was primarily because the existing facilities at Ashford were housed in dilapidated huts which were considered by the Mental Health Commission's inspectors to be unsuitable for use as a mental health inpatient facility. At the same time funds were available from the sale of surplus land at West Middlesex to fund a redevelopment to enable these services to be provided there.
1.26 Proposals to use T Block, one of the existing buildings at West Middlesex, for the provision of mental health services by the Hounslow and Spelthorne Community and Mental Health Trust were raised before selection of the preferred bidder although this was not finalised until August 2000. At this late stage the Trust decided to handle this as an addition to the PFI contract. Although the business case states that redeveloping T Block was the best option for providing mental health services, local stakeholders had reservations as to whether this was in fact the best option. The Trust has told us that these reservations were considered at the time but that they were outweighed by the advantages of the proposal. The estimated cost of T Block refurbishments is £5.3 million, and this is to be funded from land sales.