HEALTH bosses are to go ahead with controversial proposals to move a psychiatric intensive care unit but plan to sweeten the pill.

The NHS trust that runs mental health services in County Durham and Darlington wants to close the five-bed Tony White Unit at the County Psychiatric Hospital, in Durham City.

It is proposed to move the unit from outdated facilities to the £20m West Park Hospital, in Darlington, until new facilities can be built in north Durham in 2007, possibly at Earls House Hospital.

But concerns have been raised about the proposals.

Police in Durham have expressed fears about having to transfer patients with mental health problems to the south of the county.

Durham County Council's health scrutiny sub-committee has also heard that staff are concerned that the move would have a serious detrimental effect on care.

There are also concerns about the distances relatives and friends from the north of the county would have to travel to visit patients in Darlington.

Having listened to a wide range of public comments during a consultation period, the trust is to go ahead with the closure.

But in an effort to placate opponents of the move, the trust is proposing to provide a free taxi service for carers and families.

The County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust is also planning to increase staffing levels on the acute wards at the County, as well as providing a safe room at the hospital and working with the police to develop guidelines for patient transfers.

The trust also wants to postpone the closure of the Tony White Unit by two months, putting the change-over back from January to March next year.

The proposals are expected to be approved when the Priority Services trust board meets tomorrow.