Councillors' consultation fears on community hospital beds plan

NHS bosses in Somerset have been accused of “putting the chicken before the egg” when it comes to possible closures of community hospital beds.

- Daniel Mumby Local democracy reporter

The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust operates 13 inpatient wards across its 11 community hospitals, located in Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard, Crewkerne, Frome, Glastonbury, Minehead, Shepton Mallet, South Petherton, Wellington, Williton and Wincanton.

Following the publication of the government's ten-year plan for the NHS, the trust is consulting on proposals to close, relocate or re-purpose inpatient beds, with more emphasis being placed on “pathway beds” to get patients out of acute hospitals and being able to receive further treatment at home.

Somerset Council's adults and health scrutiny committee met in Bridgwater to discuss the issue on August 21, with councillors raising concerns that the proposals had not been properly developed and would lead to a drop in services.

Health bosses responded that no final decisions had been made and that the changes could lead to a wider range of services being offered at a local level.

Numerous members of the public expressed their concerns at the meeting, raising concerns about the lack of consultation.

Mel Warburton said: “A&E departments are overstretched due to demand, and they are unable to source beds as required - some of which is due to bed-blocking.