Plans to shut the mental health crisis block at Medway Maritime Hospital have been approved.

The ageing 35-bed A Block at the Gillingham hospital is set to close within 12 months, with provision being increased in Canterbury, Dartford and Maidstone.

Kent County Council's NHS overview and scrutiny committee approved the closure put forward by Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) yesterday.

It was told the number of inpatient beds will increase from 160 to 174, with some of the money saved from A Block's closure being spent on increased community services.

The decision follows a public consultation last year into the way services should be provided locally, which included specific concerns about the poor quality environment at Medway's A Block and the need to find new accommodation as soon as possible.

KMPT welcomed the news. Medical director Dr Karen White said: "This decision means that we can now move forward with the provision of excellent mental health services for people in Kent and Medway who need crisis care.

"It's an opportunity for us to strengthen community services for people in mental health crisis supporting more care at home, which is what most people want, and to deliver care in modern accommodation which has been designed to meet the needs of service users and staff."

But families of those who use the service have previously spoken out about their concern.

Brian Clark, 71, whose 34-year-old daughter has to use A-block and has attempted to take her own life, said: "The thought of going up to Dartford fills me with horror.

"They're saying they will treat people at home, therefore they don't need the beds. That's all very well but people like my daughter need to be put in hospital because they're at risk."

The NHS said rigorous checks were carried out to make sure there would be enough beds to cope with demand.