The facility operates as "step up/step down" residential facility for people with mental health problems.
Last week the Worcestershire Mental Health Trust Negotiating and Consultative Committee rubber stamped the closure and this week the Worcestershire County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee will write to the Trust to agree that their concerns have been addressed. A 24 hour a day telephone line will start from October 1st 2008 and the number of people working for the Malvern Community Mental Health Team will be increased.
Harriett Baldwin said, "My correspondence with Mick Mather, the Director of Integrated Mental Health has gone some way to allay my own concerns. I also welcome the fact that the Trust is planning to change Sheffield House into transitional housing. However, my remaining and overwhelming concern is that the most likely residential alternative for service users is now Newtown Road hospital, which I know is seen to be very "institutional". I am arranging to visit Newtown Road Hospital to see for myself whether what I have heard about the facility is true."