AN ELDERLY persons' unit in a York psychiatric hospital is to close - prompting staff to fear for the futures of its residents.

Up to nine of the 12 residents in the Newman Ward at The Retreat, in Heslington Road, will require care in mainstream nursing homes, while three of the residents will be offered alternatives places within the hospital from September.

Tom Roche, head of business development at The Retreat, said the transfers would be handled sensitively, with Retreat staff accompanying residents and ensuring that their likes and dislikes and particular routines were passed on to their new carers.

However, one staff member on the unit, who did not want to be named, said she was worried that the disruption would cause a sharp decline in residents' health.

She said: "We know that a move like this will be very traumatic for the residents. Some of them have been there for a very long time - they are feeling it already.

"I always believed in The Retreat because it was Quaker-run and its standards were absolutely incredible.

"But now these people have reached this stage of their lives and just because they are not using all the psychiatric services they are going to be cast out. It's not right."

When the unit closes in September it will temporarily house residents from Hannah Ward while that is being upgraded.

After that period a number of options, including reopening it to elderly people, are being considered, following consultation with service users and providers, Mr Roche said.

He said: "For some considerable time there has been a growing concern that the majority of the residents in Newman Ward no longer require the specialist psychiatric services provided by The Retreat. It was felt that over time, for most of the residents, their physical care needs had outweighed their mental health needs.

"Following a review, all of our services, a decision was made to begin plans to close the Newman Ward towards the end of 2005.

"We will be working with our patients, their relatives and carers to make arrangements for suitable alternative placements for some of the residents in Newman Ward which will be more in keeping with their physical care needs."

It is hoped that staff on the ward will gain employment elsewhere in the hospital.

Bill Hodson, of City of York Council's community services, said: "We have been working with The Retreat for some time to reassess the care needs of patients to review whether they still need the specialist services that The Retreat provides.

"Alternative care arrangements would be offered in such circumstances, but this work is still going on."

Updated: 09:31 Monday, May 30, 2005