Detox centre 'Life-saving' facility to shut despite public support

“LIFE-SAVING” alcohol and drug detox centre in Bristol will close within weeks despite thousands of people fighting to save it.

- Tristan CORK

The Acer Unit at Southmead Hospital is the city’s only NHS-run detox unit, offering a 10-bed inpatient service where people struggling with addiction can access life-changing support in their recovery.

It is run by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) NHS trust, but its future has been uncertain for months. Now, the trust has confirmed that it will have to close at the end of June.

A spokesman said: “Across the country there has been a move away from the use of drug and alcohol inpatient services towards more community-based detox treatment. This has been reflected locally with now only 45 per cent of the beds in the Acer Unit in regular use, compared to 90 per cent 10 years ago.

“As a provider AWP requires funding from commissioners to cover the cost of running its services. As a result of the reduction in use of its beds, the Acer Unit has been running at a considerable loss for many years despite efforts to increase bed occupancy, which means the cost of providing the service for AWP has far exceeded the money it receives.”