The Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson has now taken the decision to centralise Gloucestershire’s mental health care. Weavers Croft is set to lose its inpatient beds to Charlton Lane in Chelthenham. Weavers Croft will still be used as a centre for providing care to older patients in their own homes.
Stroud Liberal Democrats regret the need for such change. Andrew Fisk said “It is a shame that local facilities ahve to be transfered. How are patients and carers going to cope with a thirty-mile round trip? This plan is seriously misguided. If these proposals do go ahead the NHS must do more to help travel arrangements for carers.”
Cllr Christine Headley added, “Our petition proved that feeling in Rodborough ran high against the proposed cuts. It is good that the Maternity Hospital and beds at Stroud Hospital have been saved for the time being, but the loss of beds at Weavers Croft is a disappointment.”