CLAIMS have been made mental health services in Warwick and Leamington will be lost to cost cutting measures.
South Warwickshire Keep Our NHS Public (SWKONP) say the only NHS mental health outpatient services across the district will be moved to Stratford under plans drawn up by Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust (CWPT) – which runs the service.
The buildings which the group says are lined up to go include St Mary’s Lodge and Ashton House in Leamington, Warwick Rescource Centre and Whitnash Lodge based at Leamington Hospital.
SWKONP says under plans all staff and patients would be moved to Stratford.
It also says despite being unclear exactly how many patients would be affected, St Mary’s Lodge – which provides adult mental health care – holds around 200 appointments a week.
Group chair Anna Pollert said: “Mental health facilities are not just chunks of real estate. They cannot be sold off without major repercussions for the most vulnerable people.
“Mental health funding has already been cut to the bone. How can our communities be further starved of scare resources?”
Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust is yet to respond to our request for a comment.
But the trust says there are no plans to stop providing services locally, although it is looking at the potential sale of its buildings.
Chief executive Simon Gilby said: “We are continuing to review our use of buildings to ensure we continue to provide services to our patients in suitable premises while improving service efficiency.
“We can confirm there are no plans to cease the provision of any services or clinics in Leamington and Warwick. Changes to the locations of any clinics would, of course, involve engagement with our patients and the public to ensure that the venues continue to be accessible.”
Visit www.facebook.com/KeepOurNHSPublicWarwick to find out more about SWKONP.
