Could this be the end for the Henderson?

11:47am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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The fight to save a specialist mental health hospital in Sutton has reached crisis point after patient numbers dwindled to just five.

Although South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust insisted the planned closure on April 23 would be temporary, people close to the campaign to save Henderson Hospital claim it will be the final nail in its coffin.

“Henderson has been left in a position where closure is the only option. This is the end result of the Government's neglect to fully address the needs of some of society's most vulnerable people."

Marilyn, former Henderson patient

In December the trust decided to cut all funding to the hospital after the number of referrals fell.

But campaigners received a welcome reprieve last month when health scrutiny committees in Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton voted to launch a consultation period.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr John Stevens, who has campaigned for the Henderson's survival, said the closure would come as a heavy blow.

"There is no alternative to our sevice," Dr Stevens added, "We are very angry about this - it's an obscenity."

A former resident, known as Marilyn, said she was appalled.

"Henderson has been left in a position where closure is the only option. This is the end result of the Government's neglect to fully address the needs of some of society's most vulnerable people.

"The current funding system has stopped PCTs from referring clients who need this type of service."

The move has also incurred the wrath of Sutton's MPs.

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake said: "I am saddened that the Henderson has had to shut temporarily - not because it wasn't needed, but because the NHS failed to find a way to keep it running."

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow labelled the move an outrage.

"If the hospital closes, a mistake will have been made," he said. "Closing a service like this that will simply have to be reinvented is a false economy. "

A trust spokesman said the decision had been made after patient numbers plummeted from 29 to just five, but a public consultation would proceed as planned over the summer.

Chief executive Peter Houghton added: "I am grateful to the staff at the Henderson for their continued commitment and professionalism and the tremendous efforts they have made to maintain a viable service as resident numbers have dropped."

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