ACTION is being taken to prevent mental health patients jumping from a bridge on to a busy Hampshire dual-carriageway.

Health chiefs have revealed that nine patients at the Woodhaven unit at Calmore have threatened to leap from the side of a road bridge that spans the A326.

A tenth patient carried out her threat and injured her spine.

The bridge was the scene of a fatal accident in November last year.

Former Woodhaven patient Kathleen Gundre, 61, of Totton, ended up on the southbound carriageway of the A326 and was hit by a Renault Laguna.

Now Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust is planning to replace the wooden fences at either end of the bridge.

An application to install anti-climb' mesh was approved at a meeting of New Forest District Council's planning and development control committee.

Peter Smith, representing the applicant, said: "No one has attempted to jump from the main span but there have been several incidents in which patients have either jumped or threatened to jump. One woman injured her spine but recovered."

Councillors were recommended to support the application in the interests of public safety.

A report to the committee said: "The proposed new fences are required by the applicant to prevent patients from Woodhaven from attempting to climb the existing fences and getting on to the Totton by-pass.

"The materials and design of the new fences would be much more in keeping with the fencing on the bridge itself."

Maureen Holding, the council's Cabinet member for health and social inclusion, said: "This is a health and safety issue. There could be a death if the application is not approved."

Woodhaven patients are entitled to periods of "agreed leave" if they are judged to be making good progress.

However, one person jumped from the bridge over the A326 and nine others threatened to jump between February 2004 and May last year.

A Hampshire NHS Partnership Trust spokesman said: "The safety of our patients is our primary concern and we are pleased that the enhancements have been agreed.

"The changes to the fences will make it more difficult to get around the side and to climb on to the parapet or embankment of the bridge.

"This will help keep patients safe when they are in the area on leave."

The spokesman denied that the scheme had been prompted by the accident involving Mrs Gundre.

"The trust is not aware of the circumstances surrounding this incident as the woman was not a patient at the time," she said.