Ward closures planned by Hampshire Partnership

A report enclosed in the trust’s board papers for April 28, obtained by HSJ under the Freedom of Information Act, sets out proposals to close its Linden and Willow wards, at Moorgreen Hospital, Southampton.

A series of public consultation events was planned to be held throughout May.

Around 58 staff will be affected by the proposals.

The trust said the average number of patients using the wards per month had halved, from 20 in 2009-10 to ten in 2010-11, while the average monthly admission had dropped from five to two.

The trust has 231 beds for older people with mental health problems. However, the report said that as community services were developed, between 26 per cent and 36 per cent of those were empty during February and March.