Care Fears Over Sunderland Mental Health Ward Closure

A hospital ward is to close before the end of the year, sparking concern from patients’ families.

Cherry Knowle Hospital’s 24-bed Beeches Ward, which cares for adults with acute and severe mental health problems, will close by December 31.

Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust said a slump in patients and mounting costs to bring the ward up to scratch have led to its closure.

But at a meeting of Sunderland City Council’s health and wellbeing review committee, councillors expressed fears over the future of healthcare in the city.

Chairwoman Coun Norma Wright said: “This is a very emotive subject. There are concerns about the closure of Beeches Ward that have been expressed by a number of people.

“What will happen to patients when it closes? Where will they go? How will the patients and their carers be affected by the reduction of beds? Do we have enough beds?

“We are here to scrutinise decisions and ensure that the best healthcare is available for residents across the city.”

The Trust started winding down the ward at the beginning of October when it stopped taking in patients, and it has dismissed hopes that an alternative venue will be provided.

It said the move followed assessments that showed it was in the “best interest” of patients to close the ward.

A Trust spokeswoman said: “Both assessments found that The Beeches fell a long way short of the quality environment in which we want to care for patients, and that due to its design even significant investment would not bring the building up to the required standards.

“The Beeches can take a maximum of 24 patients, but due to the development of a range of local community mental health services that support people in their own homes, we currently only have seven patients on the ward.

“We expect most of those to be returning to their homes prior to the closure, but anyone needing to remain in hospital will be cared for in one of our alternative inpatient wards on the Cherry Knowle Hospital site.”

She added that new patients have been admitted to other wards on-site and no one has been refused a bed at the hospital.

A national mental health charity today slammed the move, claiming the closure is the latest in a long line across the country.

Richard Colwill, spokeman for Sane, said: “It’s deeply worrying a ward containing 24 much-needed in-patient beds is to be closed in favour of treating people at home.

“Nationally, we have lost 35,000 beds in the last 20 years, but we still have the relentless casualties, with people feeling neglected and having no refuge or asylum for themselves or those who care for them when they reach crisis point.”