AN MP has welcomed a decision by NHS England and North-East health trusts to retain five beds at an award-winning eating disorders unit which had been threatened with closure.

Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central, said she was “delighted” that NHS England and the trusts had come together to reverse their decision to close the ten-bed Richardson Unit at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

The decision to retain five of the beds at the Newcastle unit – in addition to the 15 eating disorders beds at Darlington’s West Park Hospital – was taken after agreement was reached between NHS England and the two healthcare trusts which run the service, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.

NHS England and the two trusts have also agreed to work together to try to avoid sending patients for treatment outside of the North-East unless it is absolutely necessary.

The Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Trust will also work towards establishing an intensive day care service for eating disorders patients in Newcastle next year.

The Richardson unit had been threatened with closure because NHS funding for inpatient treatment of eating disorders had been concentrated on the Darlington unit.

Ms Onwurah said: “The decision is clearly good news and a victory for common sense.”

In June Ms Onwurah secured a debate in Parliament to highlight the absurdity of local patients with severe eating disorders being sent around the country for treatment whilst beds lay empty in Newcastle.

Two women who are receiving treatment at the Richardson Unit had been taking legal action to stop its closure.