Gloucestershire: Mental health beds 'centralised'

In-patient services are being axed at three mental health units for elderly people in Gloucestershire, reports the BBC.

Beds at Weavers Croft in Stroud, Colliers Court in Cinderford and Holly House in Gloucester will be transferred to a centre in Cheltenham.

Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust claimed that the changes would provide patients with a higher quality of care. But the county council's health overview and scrutiny committee said the closures would badly affect relatives who would have to travel further to visit loved ones.

The Department of Health said that after carefully considering the IRP's review, it would be "difficult to sustain safe services in four inpatient units", recommending that arrangements should be made to facilitate travel and access to Charlton Lane.

The Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust announced last year that it would be cutting almost £10m from mental health services in the county.

Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper said he was "disappointed" with the decision.

"I am very concerned about the difficulty of transport and access to the services that my constituents will now face and the extra stress, worry and cost which will fall on patients, families and carers" he said.