STAFF fear controversial plans to move a psychiatric intensive care unit will affect care.

The County Durham and Darlington Priority Services Trust is proposing to close the five-bed Tony White Unit at the County Hospital, in Durham.

The unit would move to the £20m West Park Hospital, in Darlington, but would return to Durham in 2007 in a new hospital, possibly at Earls House.

The trust said accommodation at the unit, which includes a secure facility, does not meet national standards.

Police in the city have expressed concern about having to transfer patients who arrive at the police station to Darlington.

Durham County Council's health scrutiny sub-committee heard yesterday that staff have concerns.

Liz Hopkins, who works at the unit, said staff felt the proposals would not benefit patients and would have a "major and serious detrimental effect on care".

She told councillors there were concerns about the consultation by the trust and that staff, patients and carers had not been listened to.

She said information in the consultation document was inaccurate and misleading and that some important information had been removed.

Ms Hopkins said the unit's environment was not as bad as it had been portrayed and that the facility was a very therapeutic place.

Trust chief executive Sandy Taylor said he was not aware of information being removed.

He said the proposal was prompted by the Mental Health Commission saying that the accommodation was inappropriate and did not meet standards.

He said the proposal was backed by primary care trusts and that there had been wide consultation and extra meetings held.

He said carers and visitors facing difficulties travelling to Darlington would be able to use the trust's contract taxis.

He also told the sub-committee that the facility could not be improved as a temporary measure.

The sub-committee called on the trust to hold further talks with staff.

Mr Taylor told councillors that the trust would be happy to seek the views of staff and other groups to see if they were happy with the consultation so far.