ANGUS Macpherson has backed a proposal which would see Swindon place of safety facilities closed and moved to Devizes.

The police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon said the proposal put forward by Avon & Wiltshire Mental Partnership NHS Foundation trust was the "right decision for patients and their families".

The changes would see the closure of a place of safety unit in Sandalwood Court Swindon and Fountain Hospital Salisbury with suites at Green Lane Hospital, Devizes serving the entire county.

This would mean Swindon mental health patients would be sent out of the area and face a 45-minute journey for assessment.

Under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act a person believed by the police to have a mental disorder, and who may cause harm to themselves or another can be taken to a place of safety where a mental health assessment can be carried out.

AWP say Swindon’s place of safety site cannot stay open because there is insufficient space to expand, the cost of building is too great and analysis of admissions showed that Green Lane is the busiest suite.

The Trust also says due to delays service users have on occasion been detained in police custody suites, or A&E units which are not appropriate for assessment,

Mr Macpherson said the benefits the patients would receive from improved services – including increased space and staff numbers- would outweigh extra travelling time from the town.

In a statement Mr Macpherson said: “I support the proposal to close the units in Swindon and Salisbury and to focus on one dedicated unit located centrally in Devizes. It’s the right decision for patients and their families.

“Green Lane in Devizes is the most sensible choice – it receives the highest number of patients of the three current sites.

“The single site would be able to accommodate four people which would mean improved capacity. There would be dedicated staff with the right training to look after challenging patients who are experiencing a crisis.

“A change in the law means police custody should only be used in truly exceptional cases. I’ve been advised that a single site in Devizes would mean police use of Section 136 would happen very rarely.

“The extra travelling time from Swindon or the Salisbury area would be outweighed by the improved service patients in crisis would receive.

“I am very pleased that the mental health triage team in our police HQ, which I jointly fund with clinical commissioning groups, is really bearing fruit. We have seen only five instances of Section 136 being used since September.

“The nurses can access a patient’s records and give real-time advice to police officers out on the ground, as well as seeking an urgent assessment of the patient that keeps the person in crisis away from a police custody cell.”

The proposal has been criticised by mental health charity Service User Network Swindon (SUNS) with the charity’s chairman Ann Mooney calling the idea ‘ludicrous’.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson also said he was ‘incredibly disappointed’ to hear about the proposed closure and would be voicing his concerns to AWP.

Swindon Borough Council and Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group have also raised concerns.

To make your views known email awp.placesofsafetyfeedback@nhs.net , complete the feedback form on the Trust’s website, call 01249 468 261 or freephone: 0800 073 1778, write to Places of Safety Feedback Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Mental Health NHS Trust, Jenner House, Langley Park Estate, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1GG or attend any of the three consultation events in Swindon, Salisbury and Devizes.

Further details of the consultation events will be announced on the trust’s website. The deadline for opinions is April 30.