THE FIRST in a series of public consultation meetings that will help determine the future of two closure- threatened Hampshire mental hospitals saw just seven people turn up.

Health chiefs called on the public to have their say over plans to close Rivendale Rehabilitation Unit in Sarisbury Green and the Ellingham Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit at Calmore’s Woodhaven Hospital.

They had been heavily criticised for not holding public consultations when the units were temporarily closed at the end of last year.

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But just seven people turned out last night to the first meeting at Lyndhurst Community Centre to hear bosses at Hampshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, responsible for the county’s mental health services, explain that six intensive care beds at Ellingham and 14 beds at Rivendale were not needed.

They admitted some patients would have to travel further as a result of the closures during a question and answer session where the number of NHS staff was double the number in the audience.

Carol Deans, head of communication at Hampshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, urged people to make their views known She said: “It’s an opportunity for people to find out more about the proposals and to give us their views once they have found out more about it.”

One man who was in the audience but who asked not to be named, said many supporters felt the trust would still press ahead with closure plans.

He said: “The decision to close them has already been made. This meeting is just playing lip-service.

“It’s not in the patients’ best interests to close them.”

Both units were temporarily closed nine months ago so that all 50 staff could be seconded to other vacant posts within the trust due to a staff shortage.

The move prompted a number of protests by supporters of the service and calls for the authority to organise public consultations before any final decision was made.

They were first earmarked for closure a year ago as part of a proposed package of measures to save £2.2m.

Have your say

People can have their say by phoning 023 8087 4118 or e-mailing engagement.office@hantspt-sw.nhs.uk.

More public meetings are planned for: ■ Thursday July 8 – 12.30pm-2.30pm: Music Room, Thorngate Halls, Bury Road, Gosport, PO12 3PX.

■ Monday July 12 – 5pm –7pm: The Octagon Room, Ferneham Hall, Osborn Road, Fareham, PO16 7DB.

■ Wednesday July 14 – 12.30pm –2.30pm: Masonic Hall, High Street, Lymington, SO41 9AA.