Proposed Closure of Mental Health Ward at Hinchingbrooke – Your Help Needed

Have you or your loved ones ever used Acer Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital for mental health services? Are you travelling to Peterborough during this temporary closure period? If so, then your help is needed.

Huntingdonshire District Council's Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) is seeking residents' views on NHS Cambridgeshire's proposals to formally relocate the mental health ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital to the Lucille Van Geest Centre in Peterborough. If approved, the proposals will require patients and visitors to travel greater distances to access facilities and will ultimately mark the removal of the only available local mental health facility within Huntingdonshire.

Councillor Steve Criswell, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) said "The Panel is keen to hear your views to ensure the right decision is made for the benefit of Huntingdonshire residents".

The Panel is next due to meet on 3 January 2012 to consider its final response to the consultation. Members of the public can either attend the Panel meeting which takes place at 7pm in the Civic Suite, Pathfinder House, Huntingdon or write to the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being), c/o Democratic Services, Pathfinder House, St Mary's Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN. Alternatively, your views can be emailed directly to Democratic.Services@huntingdonshire.gov.uk.