A pioneering mental health project in Bradford singled out for praise in a national report is to close after its funding was withdrawn. The Hope and Horizons Clinics based at Highfield Health Centre in Tong Street, Bradford, were set up in April 2001 after a gap in services was identified for people with mild and moderate mental health problems.

The clinics were developed with funding from Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust and had input from service users as well as professionals.

Their work was highlighted in a national report Primary Solution, from the charity Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health in association with the NHS Alliance, for providing a dedicated team of professionals, including mental health nurses, a mental health specialist, health visitors and a social worker, to provide care for people with mild to moderate mental health problems.

Previously these patients had to wait several months to be seen for assessment within specialist mental health services and had not been looked on as a priority.

The report found that in other parts of the country, over-stretched GPs were unable to offer the care needed to people with mental illness.

But now the two-year pilot project in Bradford is drawing to a close and after a review of the service in October 2002 it has been decided to withdraw funding for it. Instead, money will be put into developing a community mental health team.

Dr Angela Moulson, a GP at Highfield Health Centre and key member of the Horizon clinic, said: "Although we are very disappointed that the clinics may not continue in their present form, we will be working closely with the primary care trust to ensure that the best possible service is developed for all of our patients with mental health problems."

Dr Barbara Hakin, chief executive of Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust, said: "We will be investing extra money in mental health services this year.

"We need to make sure that resources are used wisely and the best possible service is provided to all the patients we serve.

"The Hope and Horizon Clinics were a pilot project in the PCT and we have learned many lessons from the experience.

"We are taking the best elements and lessons from the project to create a community-based mental health service which best serves the needs of all our patients. The purpose of any pilot is to try out new ways of working."