STAFF representatives at Calderstones Hospital, which is set to close, have said that moving some of those cared for into the community could have ‘devastating consequences’.

Union leaders from Unison said they believed the closure, which was announced last month, was ‘unfair and unjust’.

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The 223-bed Calderstones unit cares for people with learning disabilities.

However, a large proportion of service users are dual diagnosed with mental health and personality disorder.

The complex, near Whalley, also provides forensic care for people who have been through the criminal justice system where it has been deemed inappropriate to send them to prison.

Chris Chamley, Calderstones branch secretary for Unison, said: “The plan to move service users out into the community with straight forward learning disabilities is a good idea.

“However, service users who are under a forensic mental health section will be difficult to find adequate community care for.

“There is around a 23 per cent re-admittance rate per year to Calderstones as a result of ineffective community care.

“In addition, there are service users who, at any time post discharge, end up back through the criminal justice system or living on the streets.

“Moving service users into the community who are under a forensic mental health section could potentially have a negative impact on the individual and the community.

“Service users under a forensic section have a range of offending behaviours including murder, manslaughter, rape and sexual offences, committed against adults or children.

“Moving these individuals into the community could have devastating consequences.

“Calderstones staff are well trained and dedicated to service user care.

“We urge a rethink on the decision to close Calderstones and not to merge learning disabilities with a generic mental health service as these people will become lost in the system.”

The trust which runs Calderstones employs around 1,200 people and its closure is subject to consultation.

NHS England maintain that patients and the public will not be at risk and that patients will only be transferred out of Calderstones when there is appropriate alternative provision available.

They added that there would remain a need for low and medium secure provision in the North West, but the intention is to commission those in other locations, which will be provided by the new enlarged Mersey Care or other providers.

All hospital beds on the current Calderstones site will be re-provided on a case by case basis for each patient, in the community or in new state of the art units elsewhere in the area.