Reading psychiatric unit to stay open

Families of 11 male long-term psychiatric patients have won their
campaign to stop health chiefs closing a purpose-built psychiatric
unit.

Acorn House in Reading was due to close after only 13 months,
despite worries that the 11 male patients were not ready to go back
into the community and fears over finding them other psychiatric
wards.

But in a joint statement from Reading West MP Martin Salter and the
trust, it emerged that the unit would stay open for as long as the
majority of places were needed.

Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation,
said that while the case for closing old long-stay hospitals was
overwhelming, it must be handled with compassion and care.