DOZENS of closure-threatened beds in a unique string of community health complexes in North Staffordshire have been saved after a re-think by health officials.

The axe was due to fall on the 32 beds at the four mental health resource centres next March, but met an outcry from patients.

The local NHS has admitted that the reaction from users and their representatives was key to allowing the beds to stay at the Sutherland centre, Longton, Lymebrook in Bradwell, Bennett in Shelton and Ashcombe in Cheddleton.

Patients groups said they were overjoyed they had been listened to.

The four units were the only ones of their type set up in the UK about seven years ago to help people living at home and needing short-term care to stay out of hospital.

But in its latest strategic plan, mental health NHS trust Combined Healthcare said the beds were to be used instead for patients transferring from the area's main psychiatric hospital in Harplands, Hartshill, requiring rehabilitation.

The North Staffs Users Group had opposed the shutdown and urged members to speak out about how the beds had helped them stay out of hospital.

The organisation also ran a survey to collect people's opinions.

The group's director Lorien Barber said today: "This is terrific news and will remove the fears of many people.

"They are so popular we were concerned that if they were no longer available, people would not come forward to seek help for a mental health problem as they would fear the only alternative would be the beds at Harplands.

"We are delighted we have now had these assurances that nothing will happen to them for the time-being; although we suspect they are still not off the hook in the longer-term.

"It is gratifying that users have been listened to by the decision-makers and that shows the power of public opinion."

Combined's nursing director David Pearson, below, said: "Commissioners and provider NHS Trusts have a duty to review all sections of healthcare to ensure they provide accessible, high quality, best value services to the local community they serve.

"As a health economy we have listened carefully to the valuable feedback we have received from patients and carers, including the North Staffs Users' Group and the charity Changes and decided there will be no change to the current arrangements with beds in our mental health resource centres.

"It is very reassuring for our trust that patients and their families have given these services their vote of confidence."