A MAJOR U-turn has been agreed over the future of a mental health rehab centre, which was previously earmarked for closure.

Hertfordshire County Council, which funds The Causeway in King Harry Lane, revealed earlier this year its plans to close the centre - to cut costs of about £530,000 from its social care budget.

Its proposals, made in conjunction with the Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust which runs the service, came under fire from service users and their families who disagreed with the proposed shift to community-based care.

However the county council announced yesterday the rehab centre would remain open and will continue providing care to people suffering from mental health problems.

Feedback received following a consultation has been used to shape the decision which will also see the 14-bed centre refurbished.

As well as helping patients integrate back into their community, the service will be upgraded to provide more health care treatment. While previous patients had a cap on how long they would stay at The Causeway, under the new proposals the stay will depend on individual needs.

Marianne Boyle, whose daughter was admitted to The Causeway in April last year, had initially opposed the closure and feared her 20-year-old would not recover if she was moved out of the centre.

Despite welcoming the U-turn, Mrs Boyle and her daughter are worried the structure of NHS in-patient care will not work as efficiently.

She added: “We are not sure whether the service users will benefit as much as they did previously, we are still unsure about the change to in-patient care.”

County councillor for St Albans Chris White was at the forefront of a campaign to ensure the centre remained open, after being contacted by many service users over the closure.

He said: “'The county council seems to have listened to public concerns and so this change is welcome and those who protested are to be congratulated.

“I can only hope the county council will now listen to similar concerns on other matters - such as their bizarre decision to cease funding The Crescent.'

Colette Wyatt-Lowe, executive member for health and adult care at the county council, said: “This is an excellent example of a council listening to and acting on people’s views.

“The new model of care will blend the best elements of the current Causeway service with the wider rehabilitation services we provide in partnership with the NHS, drawing on a broad range of skills and expertise with a team of staff including experts in social care, occupational therapy and psychiatry.”

It is hoped in the future The Causeway will be able to take in 17 patients at one time, by developing a three-bed detached house on the site. This will be used to house patients with longer care needs.