THE MPs for North and South Swindon have appealed to the region's mental health provider to think again over the possible closure of the town's only place of safety unit.

The specialist suite, at Sandalwood Court in Stratton, is a vital resource where those who are deemed to pose a risk to their own life or the lives of others due to a mental health condition can be taken for urgent assessment.

The police have a power under the Mental Health Act to ‘section’ someone in the above circumstances. This involves taking them off the street or out of their home and to a place of safety where they can be seen by suitably trained professionals.

The facility at Sandalwood Court performs just that role.

But last month, despite opposition from politicians, service users and the public, the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) revealed that it was to close, with patients having to be transported to Devizes instead.

The decision was met with widespread disbelief. On Saturday, campaigners assembled outside Sandalwood Court to call for the closure to be called off.

Swindon Borough Council has registered its firm disagreement with the move and last month MPs Justin Tomlinson and Robert Buckland wrote to the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and the Chief Executive of NHS England, to argue that axing such an important service would be a failure of the guiding commitment to deliver parity of esteem between physical and mental health.

The interventions led AWP to pause the process, with a final decision delayed until a full report has been presented to the organisation's board in October.

Ahead of that meeting, Mr Tomlinson and Mr Buckland have again joined forces to call on board members to think again before depriving Swindon of its only place of safety unit.

In their letter, the pair re-assert their opposition to the new proposed model centralised in Devizes and raise fresh concerns that the proposal would be in breach of the NHS Mandate.

The mandate sets out that any proposed significant change to clinical services must demonstrate that it is supported by clinicians and patients, have a strong evidence-base, and improve access to treatment.

But according to AWP's own data, one in four people accessing a place of safety subsequently require specialist hospital treatment, meaning it is likely they will be transferred back to Swindon and in most cases to Sandalwood Court.

The MPs have argued that this, in conjunction with the opposition of clinicians, patients and stakeholders, as well as the "poorly managed" consultation which they argue ruled-out all other options, should see the proposals thrown out.

North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson, said: “Sandalwood Court’s place of safety suite is essential to ensuring we can provide high-quality, tailored emergency mental health support to vulnerable people in an environment which is safe and close to family.

"If the AWP board chooses to back the proposal it will be making it harder, not easier, for our constituents to access that tailored emergency support.

"The board is not being asked to support this change in order to save money; this is not a financial decision but a straight clinical choice – to provide local tailored support, or centralise services miles away from vital family support networks.

"I know from conversations with clinicians and patients that this proposal, if approved, will have a hugely negative effect for those who access this vital service and that is why I am appealing directly to AWP’s board to scrap this short-sighted plan.”

His South Swindon counterpart, Robert Buckland QC MP, added: “One in four people suffer from mental ill health each year and, at a time when the Prime Minister has rightly said we need to ensure we treat both mental and physical health equally, it cannot be right that residents in need of urgent, specialist support will be asked to travel 40 minutes to Devizes.

"Justin and I have been completely opposed to this change from the very beginning.

"The decision to delay making an announcement is welcome, but is causing concern for patients, clinicians and stakeholders who, like me, oppose closing the unit at Sandalwood Court.

"Our concerns that this proposal may also be in breach of the NHS mandate join the long list of reasons why AWP should now abandon their proposals entirely and commit to a permanent place of safety suite at Sandalwood Court.”

AWP chief executive Hayley Richards said: "The trust is working with CCGs, local partners and NHS England to answer additional questions received as part of the place of safety consultation."