Plans to close the mental health ward at Medway Maritime Hospital have been referred to the health secretary.

Medway councillors took the unanimous decision last night, accusing the NHS of trying to "disregard and dismiss" patients' concerns.

They also slammed "seriously flawed data" used to justify the scheme and attacked Kent county councillors for approving it.

The Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) wants to close A-block, the Medway mental health ward which has 35 beds.

They say A-block is badly outdated and "centres of excellence" would open at existing wards in Dartford, Maidstone and Canterbury.

"The report presented by the mental health trust is flawed from start to finish..." - Cllr Geoff Juby

But a report to councillors said the number of beds across Kent would reduce from 180 to 162 - despite every bed being full on some days.

Cllr David Wildey (Con), chairman of the Medway health and social care overview and scrutiny committee, said: "For me it was the comment that nine days out of 10 they would be able to find beds, and even that seemed to be a hopeful view.

"What would happen on the 10th day?"

Labour health spokesman Cllr Teresa Murray said she had dealt with a shocking case of a schizophrenic patient.

"There was no help from anyone meaningful for seven days," she said. "The family described to me that was one of the worst weeks of their life."

Cllr Geoff Juby (Lib Dem) said: "The report presented by the mental health trust is flawed from start to finish. For a bit of investment in A-block they can actually keep the beds here."

Medway Council spent £16,250 on a report by an independent expert to investigate its concerns. Kent County Council (KCC) contributed £2,500.

The report showed every mental health ward in Kent had been at least 93% full since April 2011, and some had been over capacity.

Cllr Adrian Gulvin (Con) said: "When it comes to mental health KCC are prepared to accept third-best - not even second-best. They're treating Medway despicably and I'm really struggling to get my head round why that is the case."

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt will now have to examine the arguments in favour and against the closure before making a final decision.

Brian Clark, 71, whose daughter has mental health difficulties, said after the meeting: "As far as I'm concerned this is the first step. They just haven't got a mandate.

"Last Wednesday my daughter had to be readmitted and the crisis team said there were no beds. She had to sit at Medway A&E from midnight until 6am and that’s my daughter, who’s in danger of injuring herself."

A joint statement by KMPT and NHS commissioners expressed "disappointment" at the committee's decision, saying the plan to close A-block was supported by an independent report.

It also claimed the number of acute beds would have in fact increased from 160 to 174.

Ian Ayres, chief officer for West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "We are very disappointed by the decision and extremely concerned about the conditions on A-block in Medway Hospital.

"This was something that all stakeholders agreed upon unanimously during the consultation. We need to move patients to better accommodation as soon as possible."

The governors of the county's eight clinical commissioning group are due to consider the decision.

KMPT medical director Dr Karen White said delaying A-block’s closure "will have a direct impact on patient care".

She said: "The proposal presented outlined what we consider clinically to be the best way forward, enabling us to provide excellent care and the best patient experience for all the patients of Medway and Kent."