CONTROVERSIAL plans to close Rowden Hill House in Chippenham are to be reviewed, mental health chiefs have announced, but campaigners still fear the worst.

Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Health Care Trust has announced a series of proposals to help modernise mental health services and balance budgets.

But plans to close the Chippenham day care service for people suffering from mental health problems raised a storm of protest

Public consultation on the proposals took place between last October and January and the feedback was discussed by the primary care trust, with the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

In its report on the outcome of the consultation, the Avon and Wiltshire trust said that while the majority of service changes would be carried forward, the proposals for changes to day hospital services in Chippenham and Malmesbury were to be reviewed.

Malcolm Sinclair, director for Wiltshire mental health services, said: "Although I regret the fact that financial pressures led us to make some of the proposals in the consultation document, I believe that the changes we are implementing will help us to provide a more modern and effective service.

"There are some areas, for example day service provision in Chippenham and Malmesbury, where we need to review and refine the original proposals."

The review will start immediately and is looks likely to take up to six months.

Chippenham Mayoress and town councillor Karin Meek, whose mother uses the facilities at Rowden Hill House, said she was still worried the day hospital services would close.

"I'm not hopeful," she said. "I still think they will go ahead regardless. They are still talking about closing the two hospitals at Malmesbury and Devizes, if you read between the lines.

"You can't keep on cutting services. The telephone line service for mental health patients would be no good for my mother she doesn't know what day of the week it is how can she remember a telephone number and ask for help?"

Coun Meek said she would keep on pressing the primary care trust to retain its day hospital service in Chippenham.

Town and North Wiltshire district councillor Nina Phillips said she was still very worried about the future of the day hospital service.

"It has to be in Chippenham," she said. "The town has grown so much and needs it."

She said she understood the PCT needed to save money and accepted that Rowden Hill House was expensive to run.

"If the day hospital was moved to different premises in Chippenham that would be fine. I understand the building is expensive and not very suitable but the service must be in Chippenham."

Plans to improve privacy and dignity on Cameron Ward in Chippenham will be carried forward, reducing bed numbers to 15.

However, in the light of feedback from carers' organisations and community health councils, work will continue to look at ways of making best use of NHS, nursing homes and residential care beds to meet the wide range of needs.

The changes at Cameron will be designed so that bed numbers could increase if needed in the future.

Modern matrons will be appointed for the three older adults units in Chippenham, Trowbridge and Marlborough.

Across north and west Wiltshire £110,000 will be invested in the development of a new crisis and home treatment service to help people living in the community who have a crisis.