A “ground-breaking” mental health centre has closed down despite protests from patients and politicians.

Therapeutic House in Gillingham was the centre of a campaign to save it with those who have been treated there joined by councillors and MPs.

Following news of the closure, Medway Labour group’s deputy leader Cllr Teresa Murray said: “All of the latest research and medical opinion points to the effectiveness of the kind of therapy that the personality disorder unit offered and its ability to keep users out of hospital.

“The community based provision that replaces the personality disorder unit takes a different approach and, which being well intentioned, its effectiveness and sustainability remains to be seen.

“The priority of Medway Labour group is the well-being of the patients and users and, as such, we will continue to work with them, clinicians and mental health charities to monitor what happens.”

The centre was described as “ground-breaking in its approach” by Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), but Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) took the decision not to continue funding the service.

As previously reported in the Messenger, MPs Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) and Kelly Tolhurst (Rochester and Strood) had both written to Medway CCG asking for further discussions about plans to close the centre in Park Avenue.

It had been providing intensive treatment for those with personality disorders, many of whom say their recovery has been dependent on its services. Without the centre they said hospitals will be overburdened with an influx of mental health patients.

Mr Chishti also raised the proposed closure with the Royal College of Psychiatrists which works to improve the lives of people with mental health problems.

He said: “Therapeutic House has provided an innovative service in Medway, helping to rebuild people’s lives.”

Meanwhile, Miss Tolhurst had said many of her constituents had raised the closure with her and were devastated it was going to shut down.

Dr Pete Green from the CCG said in a statement: “We have worked with the provider, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) to help ensure that the 20 people currently using this service are able to continue to access relevant support.

“This includes community outreach that is designed to meet the needs of people with personality disorders and supports their wellbeing to help prevent crises.”

Dr Green said two of the nurses from Therapeutic House were joining the Medway Community Mental Health Team which organises care programmes for patients.