Government rejects GMWS questions on privatisation of Ocean Views

The Gibraltar Government said it has no plans to privatise Ocean Views, following a statement released by the Gibraltar Mental Welfare Society (GMWS) raising concerns over the facility's future.

The GMWS said it has been approached by a range of people working in the mental health field of the GHA to express concerns about the future of the psychiatric unit, Ocean Views (OV).

“Over the last few months, it is clear that a policy has been implemented to discharge as many patients as possible,” the GMWS said.

“Service users who were resident in OV, for decades in some cases, have gone into ERS or into the community, to live on their own. While a good argument can be presented in both cases as to the reasons for doing this, some of these discharges are not appropriate, as far as the GMWS is concerned.”

The GMWS said they had heard the Ocean Views building was going to be sold and the service privatised.

But in response the Government said it has no plans to privatise any services offered by Ocean Views or sell the Ocean Views premises.

“We do not understand where this suggestion has come from but it is entirely inaccurate,” the Government said.

“Ocean Views carries out an important service for the community and the GHA is proud of the quality of care delivered here.”

“As has been publicly stated previously, a review of many of the services offered by the GHA is currently ongoing by the Director General and this work continues.”