OKEHAMPTON’S MP Mel Stride has said he is 'bitterly disappointed' with the plans to close Okehampton Hospital’s 16 in-patient beds.

On Wednesday, September 21 the NEW Devon CCG unveiled plans to cut half of the inpatient beds in their Eastern Locality, which includes all 16 beds in Okehampton.

Central Devon MP Mel Stride said: 'I have spoken with the Chief Executive of the CCG to voice my serious concerns that Okehampton Hospital is due to lose its beds without any public consultation. The trust has agreed to an urgent meeting with me to discuss the details surrounding this decision. I am bitterly disappointed that at least one of the four options that will be consulted on does not include beds remaining in Okehampton.'

The current 143 beds across the locality’s hospitals are to be reduced to 72 beds located at three hospitals instead of the seven used at present.

The CCG is considering four options which would keep beds at Tiverton Hospital and two other hospitals out of Sidmouth, Exmouth, Seaton or Whipton.

All four options mean Okehampton Hospital would lose all its in-patient beds.

The plans have been widely panned, including by the Friends of Okehampton Hospital, Okehampton Town Mayor Cllr Jan Goffey, Devon County Councillor Kevin Ball and West Devon borough councillor Cllr Mike Davies.

GP Dr David Jenner, chairman of the Eastern locality for the Clinical Commissioning Group, said around 30% to 40% of in-patients staying at a community hospital did not need to be in hospital and could convalesce at home. He argued that people who stay longer in hospital than necessary risk infection, lose mobility and if suffering with dementia, can suffer from confusion and disorientation.

He said: ’We recognise the strong sense of place people have in their market town and the sense of loss that will be felt around the loss of the beds. If the plans are approved to go to consultation next week, there will be a genuine consultation period for three months.

’While I can’t confirm when a public event would be held, due to the governing body making a decision on the proposals next week, I am sure we would hold a public event in Okehampton to discuss the proposals. We would not duck away from that.’

The governing body of the CCG will make a decision on the proposals on September 28. If approved, public consultation on the plans will run over 13 weeks, expected to start on October 7 and run to January 6, 2017. Full papers and information about the governing body meeting are available on the CCG’s website www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk