00:02Health leaders in Gateshead are defending the closure of a specialist dementia ward,
00:06saying care for older patients is improving. Ward 23 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital shut
00:12in 2025 as part of savings plans and a wider shift towards community treatment. The trust
00:18says more people are now supported safely at home, with fewer long waits in emergency care.
00:24Performance figures show improvements in waiting times and stable bed use,
00:27but campaigners argue vulnerable patients are losing vital hospital support,
00:33warning community services may not match previous care.
00:37The trust says its approach is strengthening services and delivering more appropriate care overall.
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