Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) yesterday confirmed all patients in Ward 10a at Wakari Hospital were being relocated and no further patients were being admitted.
No decisions had been made over whether to abandon plans to refurbish the ward, an HNZ spokeswoman said.
However, staff at Wakari told the Otago Daily Times they feared the worst.
Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said healthcare workers on the 12-bed ward had only yesterday found out previous plans for a long-overdue refurbishment might not be sufficient, and that the ward might be closed.
"They are angry to have gone through a lengthy change process around how the ward was to be refurbished, only for Health NZ now to decide that all patients are to be transferred out of the ward and no new patients will be accepted.
"Workers are worried and frustrated that the Southern District may now be without any local care facilities for this particular at-risk client population.
"The failure by this government to make mental healthcare a priority has once again let down healthcare workers, patients and their families."
The PSA would be supporting affected workers through this process and ensuring these workers, and their expertise in forensic mental healthcare, were retained, she said.
Ward 10a is a unit that supports people over the age of 18 who have an intellectual disability and require assessment, care and treatment in a secure hospital environment.
It came under fire from the Office of the Ombudsman in two separate reports about a decade ago, which outlined the lack of resources for patients and carers, the outdated setting and the lack of solitary space.
An HNZ spokeswoman confirmed its executive leadership team, including chief executive Dr Dale Bramley, were in Dunedin in mid-May to visit healthcare facilities and meet staff and local leadership teams.
They spent time at Dunedin Hospital and inspected progress on the new Dunedin hospital outpatient building, as well as visiting Wakari Hospital.
"The visit reinforced the commitment and professionalism of Wakari staff working to support patients and highlighted the ongoing challenges associated with the physical environment of Ward 10a, the intellectual disability forensic inpatient unit," HNZ Southern group director of operations Craig Ashton said.
"As a result, Health New Zealand is progressing plans to relocate current Ward 10a patients to environments more appropriate for their needs. While this transition work is under way, no new admissions are being accepted to Ward 10a."
"HNZ is engaging with staff, patients, and their families regarding the next steps and is providing support throughout the transition process."
Asked where patients could go, and what could happen to the ward, Mr Ashton issued a further statement.
"No decisions have been made on the progression of refurbishment works for Ward 10a.
"Due to patient privacy and current planning, we’re unable to provide details about individual patient movements. Health New Zealand is continuing to consider next steps for Ward 10a. While no final decisions have been made, the focus remains on relocating current Ward 10a patients to environments that are better suited to their needs."
Late last year, HNZ announced that it was planned to be refurbished sometime this year. The investment would improve conditions for patients and staff, and ensure the facilities remained fit for purpose over the next five to 10 years, HNZ said at the time.
Taieri MP Ingrid Leary said the situation was concerning.
Ward 10a patients were some of the most vulnerable people in our health system, Ms Leary said.
"If the government has allowed a specialist forensic intellectual disability unit to deteriorate to the point where patients must be moved, it needs to explain what went wrong and what the plan is now.
"The key questions remain unanswered. Is Ward 10a being refurbished, replaced, or effectively closed? Where will current patients go? Where will future patients requiring secure forensic intellectual disability care be treated?"
Stopping admissions to a specialist forensic unit was a significant decision, Ms Leary said.
"Patients, families, staff and the wider community deserve certainty about the future of these services in the lower South."
The Mental Health Minister must now provide a clear plan for the future of forensic intellectual disability services in the lower South and explain how this situation was allowed to develop, Ms Leary said.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said he had spoken to Dr Bramley about Ward 10a and sought assurances all the necessary steps were being taken to ensure a smooth transition and the right decisions were being made for "the small number of patients affected".
"I am very clear that I always expect patient safety to be paramount, which is why I am advised that patients will be relocated to an environment that better suits their needs.
"I expect Health New Zealand to communicate regularly with patients, their families, and staff so no-one is left in the dark about what’s happening."
