HEALTH bosses have admitted a "lifeline" NHS ward in Tunbridge Wells will close – despite a public denial.

Shocked staff at mental health unit Leedham Ward were told last week it could shut, but the Courier has been leaked an email revealing the decision has already been made.

The email sent on behalf of Marie Dodd, the acting chief executive of Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership, told a former patient's worried relative: "We are sorry that such an unavoidable decision has been taken."

It also described the closure as an "unavoidable transition".

But astonishingly, when the Courier asked the trust on Wednesday if the Calverley Park Gardens-based ward would close, it said: "We are still in discussion over this as a potential option."

A member of staff, whom the Courier has agreed not to name, said: "Consultation is meaningless, but I cannot prove it. What they have told us is, it is being considered. I would be very angry if I thought anyone else had been advised otherwise."

The ward has specialist teams which care for inpatients with severe stages of mental illness like dementia and Alzheimer's aged over 65.

Families of former patients dubbed the service a "lifeline" and said relocating patients to Dartford and Maidstone would put an unacceptable strain on patients and their families.

The employee said around 30 employees listened to the announcement at work last Tuesday "in disbelief".

She said: "Money is at the centre of this decision, they should find a better way of saving it. There is no way it could be better for patients or their relatives to be that far away, especially with the transport. This will destroy the service."

Linda McVan, 61, of Hobdens Lane in Ardingly whose 87-year-old mother was a patient until last November, said: "Without this service I really don't know how I would have coped.

"With more and more people with dementia, we should at this point be thinking about the future and not closing the ward down for what appears to be a short-term gain."

Paula Ghazai, 50, whose 82-year-old father was at Leedham until last month, said: "I am stunned they are going to let that unit go. Everyone will suffer. Imagine an 80-year-old spouse taking three buses to visit their husband or wife?"

NHS West Kent, which 'buys' healthcare from Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, wants to spend £2.9million less by May next year. This means the partnership trust must "increase efficiency" in mental health services.

But just three years ago staff estimated £3million of NHS money was spent on upgrading Highlands House, which also houses other mental health services unaffected by the closure.

NHS West Kent's chief executive Steve Phoenix said in a statement the trust was in talks with the partnership about providing the same level of service with fewer beds. He said the savings would be "re-invested in the health economy".

Referring to the emails, he said: "NHS West Kent has not seen the letter referred to and is unaware at this time of any decision to close Leedham Ward."

Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark said he was "very concerned" about the closure and had demanded a detailed explanation of "exactly what they are proposing" from NHS West Kent.