THE closure of a vital hospital service for elderly patients will have "catastrophic" consequences, a GP has warned.

Dr David Lewis, of The Tudor Surgery, Bushey Mill Lane, learned by accident this week that Saracen Ward, also known as the elderly day hospital, at Watford General Hospital will close on Tuesday, October 31.

West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust operates the facility, which is funded by West Herts Primary Care Trust (PCT).

The PCT has now decided to axe funding for the service.

Dr Lewis said the day hospital provided an important service for elderly patients who have a number of ongoing health problems that need investigation and diagnosis, over and above what GPs can easily do during home visits.

The service treats about ten people a day.

He said: "For example, if you had a patient who had diabetes, a heart condition and stomach problems, they could be referred to the day hospital and have all these things looked at.

"It provides a one-stop shop for patients. I see it as a beacon of excellence in the local health service."

He said the decision to close it will leave patients and their families "high and dry", and described it as "a step backwards" from a holistic approach to caring for individuals.

He said: "I'm quite disgusted by the fact there's been no consultation on this, and that the PCT haven't written to GPs to tell them it's closing.

"Several of my patients have benefited hugely from the service."

Dr Lewis added: "A colleague of mine has told me the closure of a similar service at Luton and Dunstable Hospital was catastrophic for patients."

He said the difference is that instead of going into the day hospital patients would now have to wait for an outpatients appointment.

Whereas patients needing a procedure such as a blood transfusion may be able to secure an appointment at the day hospital, elderly patients would now have to wait months.

PCT representative Rose Child said when the unit closes, patients will receive the services it provides either in their homes from district nurses and early intervention teams, or elsewhere in Watford General.

The services currently provided include outpatient appointments, blood transfusions, therapy, tests and assessments.

She said patients will continue to receive these services, despite the day hospital shutting, so no consultation on the decision was necessary.

She said the PCT has not yet written to GPs because the details of the closure have yet to be finalised.

A similar service at Hemel Hempstead Hospital is also due to close at the end of October.

Eileen Whitehouse, from the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust, said day hospital staff would be re-deployed within Watford General.