Concern has been voiced at plans to axe psychiatric beds in north Essex.
Colchester Council has issued its response to the plans, which would see a mental health ward in either Colchester or Clacton closed down.
North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust is exploring options to change the way it runs services in the region, focusing on more home care rather than psychiatric wards.
The proposals, drawn up by West Essex Primary Care Trust, which is responsible for commissioning mental health services for north Essex, would see either the Peter Bruff Ward in Clacton or one of the wards in Colchester's the Lakes shut down.
While welcoming plans to improve home care for people with mental health problems, Colchester Council is worried at a cut in psychiatric beds.
In its official response to the public consultation on the proposals, the council said that it saw no firm evidence that the need for hospital beds will reduce at the same rate as the proposed reduction in bed numbers.
- More in today's Gazette
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