Devon community hospitals to cut number of beds

Protestors demonstrated against the cuts to hospital beds

Plans to close beds at community hospitals with the aim of saving £500,000 a year have been approved.

Health chiefs confirmed the overall number of beds in east Devon would be cut from 174 to 163.

Campaigners said it was a "horribly sad day" for three hospitals that would lose all overnight inpatient beds.

The group behind the decision said no community hospitals would close and said the changes would "improve the resilience of care".

'Much-cherished'

Overnight inpatient units at Ottery St Mary, Axminster and Crediton will be redistributed to Sidmouth, Seaton and Honiton.

Dr David Jenner, chairman of the eastern locality of NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said he understood some people would be disappointed.

He said: "Over the last few years the hospital provider Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has had to temporarily close some community hospital inpatient units due to staffing issues. Consolidating from 10 to seven units means we will have much more robust staffing at our hospitals in the future."

Claire Wright, Devon County Council member for Ottery St Mary, said: "It means people will not be able to go to recuperate at a much-cherished local hospital."

The CCG will set up "health hubs" at Axminster, Ottery St Mary and Seaton while Ottery St Mary hospital will have 15 overnight stroke rehabilitation beds.

The timescale for implementing the changes will be decided following a Devon County Council meeting in September.