MENTAL health patients have hit out at health bosses running the Memorial Centre in Cirencester forfailing to keep them informed about changes which affect them.

Concerned patients met with trust managers at the Memorial Centre on Monday.

County councillor Roger Brown (Lib Dem, Cirencester) also attended the meeting.

He said of the trust managers: "In short they came with no real answers to the questions we put.

"They claimed they were already providing a better service than previously, but people felt they haven't been kept in the loop, and many thought that the lack of faith has shattered their relationship with the trust.

"They remain to be convinced despite promises and good words, and many felt staff had been poorly treated."

As part of a major review of services provided by the NHS trust, staff at the centre have been sent to Park House in Stroud.

Patients are also no longer able to drop into the Memorial Centre, appointments must first be made, while beds in Cheltenham used by patients in Cirencester have been closed so they must now travel to Gloucester.

Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust has hit back at the claims patients are not being kept informed and defended its decision to relocate the centre elsewhere in the town.

Spokesman Linda Folley said the centre must close because the building is does not adhere to new health and safety regulations.

She said the trust was considering the Baunton Ward at Cirencester Hospital as a possible alternative to the Memorial Centre and admitted it had been a difficult time for patients and staff in recent months.

She said: "We are looking for alternative venues but until we find somewhere suitable we will not move. It may take some time because we don't want to jump from the frying pan into the fire.

"But we are not expecting we patients to travel to Stroud, our staff will come to Cirencester."

She added: "Not all our communication processes have been as effective as we had hoped but I think it was a positive meeting. We answered a lot of questions."