A Plymouth hospital ward which opened in June 2023 is being phased out and another is under review, the NHS has confirmed.

The wards, which opened at Mount Gould Hospital with £5 million from NHS England, are part of a discharge unit for patients from Derriford Hospital.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust said the 40-bed unit had been a “huge success” but more patients were going straight home from Derriford.

The trust said it was what patients wanted “with the right support”.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “We are so proud of the service provided by our fantastic staff.

“However, we have worked with our partners and are confident that there is enough capacity for patients to go straight home and/or receive care in the right place.”

The hospital said the number of patients going straight home from Derriford with a care package has increased from 23% in January 2023 to 47% in January 2024.

“As a result, we have already de-escalated one department as capacity in the community has improved and we are now reviewing the need for the other department,” the spokesperson said.

The move was discussed with the staff.

“Our aim is for 75% of our patients to go home first with the right support, which is what patients also tell us they want,” the trust says.