THE number of beds at Bromsgrove's Brook Haven mental health unit could be slashed.

Despite rumours rife in the town health chiefs have said there were no plans, at this point, to close a particular unit. But a decision regarding bed reductions, as a result of the significant increase in community treatment options, would be considered early next year.

The Advertiser/Messenger has had a number of telephone calls from worried Brook Haven staff and residents about the future of the site, in the grounds of the Princess of Wales Community Hospital.

The news of the possible axing of beds comes just weeks after the announcement that services at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch could be cut.

Bromsgrove MP, Julie Kirkbride, has hit out at Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust saying it has behaved 'disgracefully' and should come clean with its proposals.

She said: "If I read in between the lines correctly they mean Brook Haven is to remain open as an out-patient clinic but the in-stay patient beds will be axed.

"Once again the people of Bromsgrove are expected to go elsewhere for their health services."

In a statement the trust said it had held the first of its consultation and briefing meetings with staff last Thursday.

This was to tell them the proposals for further developing mental health services and discussing the impact this may have on some team members.

It said it had implemented a number of the new national priorities including the development of a crisis resolution and home treatment service. This offered the opportunity of treatment at home as an alternative to a hospital admission.

The implication of developing intensive community support would mean there would be less pressure on hospital beds and in time there would be a reduction in numbers of beds across the county.

The statement said the Department of Health was expecting all trusts to experience a bed reduction of 30 per cent as a result of the new community services being put in place.