A HOSPITAL near Southampton will benefit from changes to the care of elderly mentally ill, a meeting heard.

Moorgreen Hospital at West End is to share in a £850,000 capital investment with the refurbishment and extension of wards.

The investment at Moorgreen will allow more care for patients from northern Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford.

Some £145,000 will also be spent on expanding community services with two new nursing support workers for the Eastleigh area.

The gain for Eastleigh will be welcomed although it comes at a time when carers of dementia sufferers in Winchester are unhappy about the proposals. The 14-bed Shawford Ward at the city's Royal Hampshire County Hospital will be closed and instead the Barnes Ward at nearby Melbury Lodge will be extended.

Health bosses held a meeting at Winchester Guildhall yesterday to hear public response to the changes. A public consultation is not being held until November 29. Penny Morris, of the Winchester City and Hampshire Community Health Council said: "Space for people with dementia will be extra small. It will be very confined and that's a major concern."

Dr David Wilkinson, consultant and chairman of elderly mental health directorate of the West Hampshire NHS Trust said: "There are times when it is impossible to manage someone at home and carers need a break.

"The beds are there to provide the right sort of balance between care at home and hospital care when needed and this is in line with national services."

Sue Knight, of the Winchester branch of the Alzheimer's Society added: "It costs £10 an hour now for day care and carers are worried that without hospital back-up they won't be able to afford respite time."