A MENTAL health unit in Weymouth has come under threat in proposed changes to services across the county.

Beds at the Linden Unit at Westhaven Hospital on Radipole Lane are being proposed to move to the east of the county to help meet the demand.

A consultation on proposed changes to mental health services launches today.

The key issues highlighted in the document is that Dorset has a higher than national average rate of serious mental illness and the mental health service is not “meeting the needs” of people as well as it could.

One proposal is to increase inpatient beds so people can access them earlier and to stop people being placed out of Dorset.

The document reads: “To match the prevalence of serious mental illness in Dorset better and bring services closer to home, we want to make changes to inpatient beds.

“This will mean adding 16 acute inpatient beds to the system, 12 at St Ann’s hospital in Poole and four at Forston Clinic near Dorchester. This will mean that people in Dorset are able to get a bed when they need one. It will also mean closing the Linden unit and moving the 15 Linden beds to the east of county to better meet the demand.”

The Linden Unit is situated is a short-stay unit for people of all ages, who suffer with functional disorders or addictions.

Other proposals outlined in the document include improving the current 24/7 crisis telephone line to include a new service called Connection; introducing community front rooms and introducing two retreats.

Paul French, Local GP and clinical lead for mental health and learning disabilities with NHS Dorset CCG, said: “Having worked hard with local service users, carers and clinicians I am delighted that we are now able to start seeking views on our proposals, which I believe will see real improvements to mental health services in Dorset.

“Over the coming weeks I would encourage everyone who has either used mental health services, knows someone who has, or simply has a view, to find out more and have their say.”

Simon Williams from The Hughes Unit Group Supporters (HUGS), said: "HUGS has written a paper to Dorset CCG concerning this.

"Less than 40 per cent of inpatients come from the Weymouth area. The Linden Unit is not easily accessible from other areas like north Dorset so we do understand the logic behind the proposal.

"Nevertheless we are extremely concerned about this because we feel the redistribution of beds could leave a shortfall in this area."

Joyce Guest, Healthwatch Dorset chair, said "This public consultation on acute mental health services has been a long time coming. Local people have been asking us how the NHS in Dorset can carry out their current review of health services without including mental health, so it's good to see this public consultation launch. 

Local people tell us that mental health crisis care in Dorset is at breaking point and currently people find themselves without the help and support they need when they're at their most vulnerable. The NHS in Dorset needs to make some major improvements to mental health services and this is your chance to influence those plans.

We urge everyone to have a look at the proposals and make your views known. 1 in 4 of us experience mental health problems and many more of us know & care for people who do, so access to these services affects us all. Please take this opportunity to have your say."

Joyce Guest, Healthwatch Dorset chair, said "This public consultation on acute mental health services has been a long time coming. Local people have been asking us how the NHS in Dorset can carry out their current review of health services without including mental health, so it's good to see this public consultation launch. 

"Local people tell us that mental health crisis care in Dorset is at breaking point and currently people find themselves without the help and support they need when they're at their most vulnerable. The NHS in Dorset needs to make some major improvements to mental health services and this is your chance to influence those plans.

"We urge everyone to have a look at the proposals and make your views known. One in four of us experience mental health problems and many more of us know and care for people who do, so access to these services affects us all. Please take this opportunity to have your say."

The consultation, produced by NHS Dorset CCG, Dorset HealthCare and people who use the service as well as their carers, will run until March 31.

Consultation documents will be available at GP surgeries; community mental health team offices; St Ann’s Hospital; Forston Clinic and The Linden Unit.

An online version is available at dorsetsvision.nhs.uk, or copies can be requested via involve@dorsetccg.nhs.uk and 01202 541946.