PLANS by Sue Ryder Care to move out of Ely s Bishop s Old Palace and find a new centre moved a step closer this week. The charity, which helps people with brain injuries and disease, has been discussing with health officials a move to the Brookfield s Hos

PLANS by Sue Ryder Care to move out of Ely's Bishop's Old Palace and find a new centre moved a step closer this week.

The charity, which helps people with brain injuries and disease, has been discussing with health officials a move to the Brookfield's Hospital in Cambridge to create a 60-bed specialist unit at Davison House.

Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust has supported the idea as its preferred option after five possibilities for the future of the site were discussed.

But no firm decisions will be made until the end of the public consultation period which runs until April 7.

If the plan goes ahead, the PCT would invest money currently spent outside the county on rehabilitating brain injury patients in the new centre which would also cater for stroke patients.

Five beds at the new centre would be provided for patients needing 24-hour assessment or short periods of inpatient treatment and a further three to four beds would be available at alternative local centres.

Patients needing continuing care under the NHS would be placed in independent nursing homes or stay in their own homes with appropriate care packages.

Chris Banks, chief executive of Cambridgeshire PCT, said: "Sue Ryder Care has expressed an interest in working in partnership with the PCT to develop this option, but until the end of the consultation period we cannot assume it will be chosen, nor that Sue Ryder Care would be the provider of neuro-rehabiltiation services if this option were to go ahead.

"I realise it is unsettling for some patients and families but it is important that we get the right solution and that people have enough time to give their views."

Sue Ryder Care announced its plans to move out of Ely's Bishop's Old Palace last year after it was unable to meet new legislation which requires all its residents to be offered single rooms.

The charity has been based in the mediaeval Grade I listed building on Palace Green since 1984.

The King's School Ely plans to buy the building's 80-year lease and house sixth-form pupils and boarders at the Old Palace which was once home to the bishops of Ely.

David McNiven, head of neurological care at Sue Ryder Care, said: "Sue Ryder Care is exploring a number of options for reprovisioning its specialist neurological care in Ely and Cambridge. A move to the Brookfields Hospital site is only one such option and no final decisions have been reached at this stage."

INFO: Anyone interested in taking part in the public consultation will find more information as the PCT's website at www.cambridgeshirepct.nhs.uk