North Staffordshire mental health closures backed
Three hospital units and 24 community beds are to be closed in a shake-up of Staffordshire mental health services.
North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which has approved the plans, said the changes would cut costs and modernise care.
It said patients would get more support to stay in their own homes.
The Bennett Community Resource Centre in Shelton will close, alongside the Hazlehurst unit at Harpfields Hospital and Weaver House in Cheadle.
Beds will also close at Lyme Brook Centre in Newcastle and Ashcombe Centre in Cheddleton, although both units will remain open for day care patients.
David Hughes, Executive Chair of the North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said hospital beds would still be available for some of the most seriously ill patients.
He said the evidence suggested that for the majority of patients, being treated in their homes means "getting better, quicker".
"The reason for that is they're not dislocated from their family," he added.
Mr Hughes said that despite securing savings, cost-cutting was "not the prime mover".
The changes are due to be implemented from October, with the closures completed by January.