THE MP for Torridge and West Devon says he is ‘deeply worried’ over growing tensions surrounding proposals affecting community hospital beds.

Geoffrey Cox was due to highlight concerns over the plans for community hospital beds with Health Minister Ben Gummer yesterday (Wednesday).

Mr Cox attended the Holsworthy Market and Coastal Towns Initiative meeting on Thursday, September 3 and a public meeting at Bradford Village Hall on Friday, September 4, where he heard concerns towards the proposals.

Folllowing the meetings, he told the Post: “I have spoken to ministers about this issue on a number of occasions and I will be meeting with Health Minister Ben Gummer this week to convey local concerns over the future provision of community hospital beds.

“Having attended a number of meetings locally it is clear that the case has not been successfully made for such dramatic changes and it has become necessary to escalate the matter.

“I also remain deeply worried about the growing tensions between the Clinical Commissioning Group [CCG] and the local Trust and it is difficult to see how well judged decisions can be taken without the support of both these key bodies.”

The NHS NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group withdrew from the consultation process amid concerns over North Devon Healthcare Trust’s plans.

The consultation is being led by the Trust, which manages North Devon District Hospital, Holsworthy, Torrington, Bideford and Illfracombe community hospitals. The CCG is no longer involved in the six-week public consultation around cost improvement plans because it said the Trust’s focus did not reflect its ‘vision of bringing care closer to home’.

Mr Cox said removing the beds without ensuring alternative care is in place was ‘ill advised’.

He added: “It has long been my belief that community hospitals serve a vital role in the care of many patients, providing a mid-way care solution between our acute hospitals and a patient’s own home.

“To remove these beds without being completely sure that the alternative that is being proposed, Care Closer to Home, is comparable or greater, is ill advised.”

The meeting at Bradford was organised by Torridge District Councillor Philip Hackett, who represents the Coham Bridge ward. Also in attendance were chief executive of North Devon Healthcare Trust Alison Diamond, Devon County Councillor Andrew Leadbetter and BT South West regional partnerships director Paul Coles.

Cllr Hackett said: “My constituents are expressing strong opposition to this proposal as one option is to put all the community beds in the North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) in Barnstaple, which makes it impossible to visit using public transport or prohibitively expensive to travel by taxi.

“Additionally, the scheme relies on mobile carers being able to find remote properties along poorly maintained lanes, which are not gritted in winter.

“When the carers are not present, frail elderly patients would either have to fend for themselves or be looked after by friends or family if they are available. Clearly, they would be at risk.”

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Cox said: “Holsworthy Hospital is a modern purpose-built thriving hospital and it is vital that it is retained. The Trust’s proposal to place all 40 community beds at North Devon District Hospital is, in my view, wholly unacceptable.

“These proposals are being driven by expediency rather than consultative care, leaving a real issue as to what is lawful with the way the consultation is being run.

“The closing date at the end of September only allows less than one week before the board meets on 6 October, allowing a six-day period of assessment to properly analyse the responses.”

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week’s edition of the Post.