RESIDENTS of South Tyneside are being encouraged to have their say on proposed changes to the way some mental health services are provided in their borough.

As part of a public consultation into the future of specialist mental health services in South Tyneside, three well-attended public meetings have already been held.

The consultation is being conducted by NHS South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (NTW), who are the main providers of the majority of specialist mental health services for the borough.

The proposals include closing the hospital-based specialist mental health in-patient beds on the site of South Tyneside General Hospital.

These are the Bede Wing and the Leas (both stand-alone units in the grounds) and ward 18 which is based within the main hospital building.

Under the proposals patients will stay at the new purpose-built multi-million pound Hopewood Park Hospital at Ryhope, Sunderland, which is due to open this summer.

The public consultation runs until Monday, 17 March. More information can be found at southtynesideccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/my-life/