The Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt MP, has referred the decision to end inpatient services at Weavers Croft and centralise them in Cheltenham to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.  This is an independent advisory board which will look in to the detail of the changes proposed and provide Ms Hewitt with expert advice on them.  They are expected to report to her in July.

Commenting on this latest development, chairman of the Save Stroud Hospitals Taskforce, David Miller, said: 

"We are pleased that the Secretary of State for Health has referred the older peoples mental health inpatient service proposals to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

This is an extremely important matter concerning the inpatient treatment and care of older people with a mental illness.  We have particularly appreciated the detailed interest the GCC Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee have taken in this proposal.

It is now the best way forward for this proposal to be investigated by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.  We believe that they will appreciate that the people of our community want these important inpatient facilities to remain within their present community based facilities.   We are convinced that this is in the very best interests of the patients and their carers because we are aware of the high quality of care provided in Stroud at Weavers Croft."