'Clinic could be under threat'

This article was published in the Nuneaton weekly Tribune on April 24, 2008.

A campaign to stop changes to mental health provision in north Warwickshire is just around the corner.

Voices 4 Choices says the axe is hovering over Nuneaton's Avenue Clinic.

And they're not prepared to let it go without a fight.

The group, which gives a voice to service users, says it is convinced the clinic is under threat, despite assurances from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust that no decision has been made.

Heather Clelland, chief executive of Voices 4 Choices, said: 'We understand there is a need for change but all the changes seem to be being in north Warwickshire'.

 'If Avenue Clinic goes there will no beds at all in the north of the county'.

'There are real concerns as to how that would impact on patients care'.

'It would be harder to get people to admit themselves voluntarily and also very hard for their families'.

'Avenue Clinic also has the only women only ward in Coventry and Warwickshire'.

'The trust is saying there are no fixed plans but we believe they will close Avenue Clinic within two years and that it is likely they will transfer services to the Caluden Centre in Coventry'.

'That has already happened in Rugby, and it has caused difficulties. It would be even harder for our service users here'.

'We think it would damage the recovery process'.

'We are going to have our say with the trust but we are already working on a campaign to save our beds'.

Colin Merker, the trust's director for mental health services, said no decisions have been taken on the future of the clinic.

He said: 'We are looking at the best way to provide adult inpatient mental health services in our area'.

'We went to talk to Voices 4 Choices members because we wanted to make sure they were fully aware of the discussions now taking place'.

'Its our job to meet the needs of local people by providing the right mental health services for the whole of our area. We have still to agree with our NHS colleagues and others the best way of providing local services'.

'But if we were to propose any major change to existing services, we would first conduct a formal public consultation'.

Avenue Clinic is on the Manor Hospital site off Manor Court Road.

It is one of three in patient adult mental health units in Coventry and Warwickshire. It has four wards including a psychiatric intensive care unit.

The idea is that people go to the clinic for a short time for assessment and treatment.

A spokesman for the partnership trust said, 'The vast majority of people who use our services receive help in their own community, usually in their own home'.

It also provides some outpatient care.