The Sussex Partnership Trust which provides mental health services to patients in Sussex plans to close Beechwood at the end of July.

People who would have had their conditions diagnosed and monitored there must now travel to Hastings.

GPs and local people say the need for dementia care is increasing with an ageing population.

A member of hospital staff, who asked not to be named,claimed staff had been kept in the dark.

They said: 'There has been rumour upon rumour but no reassurances about what will happen both to the patients and us.

'Beechwood has been serving the community for 20 years since the closure of Hellingly Hospital.

'Everyone should be made aware of this disgraceful situation, because nurses rarely complain and neither can these patients complain about where and how they are treated.'

The land occupied by Uckfield Community Hospital was donated to the town for community use.

Dr Clarissa Fabre, Buxted GP who campaigned successfully against the closure of Uckfield's medical beds, said: 'I only heard about this recently.

'I have written to the Trust asking how many beds are occupied but I have had no reply.

'I believe there is a so-called consultation but these only serve to deliver the outcome wanted by the Trusts in the first place.'

A spokeswoman said: 'The Sussex Partnership is focusing on providing more services in the community for older people with mental health needs.

'Over the last two years the average number of older people's hospital beds used has fallen by around 30 per cent.

'It makes sense to re-allocate the staff and resources that are not needed in hospitals to schemes that help support people in the community.

'We are working alongside our NHS colleagues and the East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consult with GPs and families on proposals to transfer the Uckfield unit to an existing unit at St Anne's, Hastings.

'An eight week consultation started on June 1.

'Beechwood is the least-used of our units.

'Because there is no large hospital nearby, patients have to travel to get urgent treatment for any physical conditions.

'St Anne's is on the Conquest Hospital site and patients there have easy access to all services.'