ELDERLY people with dementia could face a "journey from hell" because of plans to change the mental health service in Hampshire.

The Southern Health NHS Foundation has begun a consultation about the possibility of closing the organic dementia ward at Petersfield Hospital.

They also want to close a similar facility at St James' Hospital, Portsmouth, in favour of a centralised service at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

The Petersfield hospital ward, called The Willows, is an assessment and treatment ward that provides care for elderly people with acute dementia. The ward has 10 beds – which cost £300 per day – but is under used and has been reportedly closed for several months.

Health chiefs insist the centralisation of services is not about cutting costs as a similar review took place in Andover and Southampton before the financial crisis.

But hospital supporters, carers and families aren't happy with the prospect of heading down the A32 when there could be a local service.

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.