Unit’s fate in balance
5:00pm Saturday 9th March 2013 in Latest News
THE future of the inpatient unit at Charter House will be discussed on Thursday.
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) made the decision to temporarily close the unit due to low occupancy of beds at the centre, in Seymour Road, Trowbridge.
Yesterday, Wiltshire councillors toured the unit ahead of the health select committee meeting, being held at the Great Western Ambulance Service offices in Langley Park, Chippenham at 10.30am on Thursday.
Iain Tulley, AWP chief executive, has raised concerns about the quality of the building and the level of care the facility can provide.
Trowbridge Town and Wiltshire councillor Jeff Osborn said: “Of course the unit has got to be in good condition to be open and I’m very concerned about long-term closure as there is still a need for this facility.
“Furthermore, if it isn’t in a good condition why has it been left to get in such a state?”
During the temporary closure of the inpatient unit staff have been reassigned, with patients being transferred to alternative centres.
It is still being used as a team base for Trowbridge and west Wiltshire with an out-patient clinic open.
