A MENTAL health unit earmarked for closure has earned a brief reprieve following desperate pleas from patients.

Health watchdogs have demanded "wide consultation" with patients over the proposed closure of Shef-field House in Court Road, Malvern.

Sheffield House is an eight-bed unit for those who suffer mental illness but are not ill enough to be treated in a psychiatric ward.

The Mental Health Part-nership NHS Trust, which wants to close it, has been asked to conduct the consultation by Worcestershire County Council's health overview and scrutiny committee. No time frame has been determined for the consultation.

Louise Aston of Malvern Wells, who suffers from bi-polar disorder and has experienced post-natal psychosis, hoped to benefit from the service.

Speaking at Tuesday's meeting, she said: "I know people who are dreadfully worried about what will happen if this service closes. Such people do not demand services, they need to be offered care.

"When people are very depressed and are at home alone they need to be looked after. I don't think any of you who make financial decisions really care. I don't think you have any idea what it's like."

Pensioner Bob Leveritt, who is chairman of Malvern MIND, also spoke at the meeting. He suffers from depression and claims he could have ended up in a psychiatric ward if it had not been for the care provided by Sheffield House.

During the meeting Coun-cillor Pam Clayton hit back when Mick Mather, a director of mental health services at the trust, described patients at Sheffield House as having "low level" mental health needs. She said: "We have heard users talk about suicidal compulsion. I think that's higher than low level. It's serious."

Sheffield House provides care to patients suffering from a range of mental health issues, including depression and bi-poplar disorder. However, health chiefs want to close it because they say it is only half full. The trust is also looking to close a £2.4 million gap in its finances.

It has already budgeted for savings of £2 million and the closure will save a further £350,000.

Sheffield House has been used by patients since the closure of St Anne's Orch-ard Day Hospital in September 2006.

The trust must choose whether to keep the service as it is, expand it - neither of which are considered viable - or close it; which is the preferred option.

If it is closed Sheffield House would be transformed into homes for people with mental illness and floating' support workers would be drafted in to care for them.

Current staff would be offered other jobs within the trust and the new housing scheme would be managed by a registered social landlord.

SHEFFIELD HOUSE: THE FACTS Sheffield House was established as a rehabilitation unit following the closure of St Wulfstan's Hospital, Malvern, in 1986.

In the late 1990s the unit was redeveloped as a pilot project. The idea was to provide a facility for the Malvern area to reduce the dependence on in-patient care.

The unit is considered a stepping stone' by the trust to allow early discharge home from in-patient wards.

The unit provides clinics, medication distribution and also offers massage and aromatherapy.