David Ruffley has been sent a petition with over 200 signatures from local residents in the Stowmarket area who are campaigning to keep the Violet Hill Day Hospital open.

Cuts in Suffolk mental health budgets have threatened it with closure.

David has forwarded the petition to Mark Halladay, Chief Executive of the Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

In his accompanying letter, David has asked Mr Halladay for specific information about the community services and outpatient clinics that Mr Halladay has said will still be available locally if the Day Hospital closes.

The full text of David Ruffley's letter to Mark Halladay is copied below.

David said: 'I have a huge number of very anxious constituents who fear they will be left with only minimal services if the Violet Hill Day Hospital closes. This facility, together with the closure of Old Fox House which is already going ahead, leaves very little in Stowmarket for people with mental illness. These people are amongst the most vulnerable in the community. They deserve to have answers about the future so I am demanding them from Mr Halladay. I want him to publish specific information about local services- I don't want just woolly words and vague promises.'

David Ruffley's letter to Mark Halladay

Mr Mark Halladay

Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Dear Mr Halladay,

Violet Hill Day Hospital, Stowmarket

Thank you for your letter of 5th October in which you confirm that community services and outpatient clinics will still be available locally should the Day Hospital close.

However, my constituents remain concerned about the future. From the comments I have received they are not convinced that the services offered at Violet Hill can be replicated elsewhere.

I have recently received the attached petition from Mrs Thelma Price containing over two hundred signatures of local residents who want to save Violet Hill Day Hospital for mental health patients over 65 years of age. I believe this demonstrates the depth of feeling in the community about the future of mental health services.

I should be grateful if you could include this petition in your consultation process.

I would also like to receive specific information about the community services and outpatient clinics which you say will still be available locally. Please let me know:

• At what venues do these services/clinics operate?

• Exactly what services are available at each venue?

• Which organisation runs them?

• What are the opening hours and are they walk-in or by appointment?

I need this information to help to reassure my very worried constituents that there will still be services available when they need them.

I look forward to hearing from you.

With kind regards,

DAVID RUFFLEY MP