THE MP for Central Devon was among the first to express his disappointment after doctors, members of the NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (NEW Devon CCG) Governing Body, decided it would no longer have inpatient beds at three community hospitals, including Crediton Hospital.

Meeting on Thursday, July 16, health chiefs confirmed the overall number of beds in east Devon would be cut from 174 to 163, overnight inpatient units at Ottery St Mary, Axminster and Crediton redistributed to Sidmouth, Seaton and Honiton.

The meeting heard that the bed closures at the three community hospitals would save £500,000 a year.

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

Campaigners against the decision said, following the meeting, that it was a "horribly sad day" for three hospitals that would lose all overnight inpatient beds.

Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, told the “Courier” following the announcement: “I am extremely disappointed by the CCG’s decision to permanently remove inpatient beds from Crediton Hospital.

“The retention of these beds is of critical importance to the local community as is demonstrated by the 5,000 people who signed the ‘Save Our Hospital Beds’ petition.

“I am concerned that the CCG has not fully taken into consideration the views of local people, and I have contacted the CCG to express my concerns and to request an urgent meeting with them to discuss their decision.”

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 says it 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.

The doctors who made the decision said that the consolidation of overnight inpatient beds at eastern Devon’s community hospitals will secure nursing care close to people’s homes.

They agreed there should be further review and reform of community services, aiming to treat more people in their own home where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

The CCG said none of the community hospitals will close as a result of the decision, emphasising that health and social care hubs, with a range of outpatient services, day surgery and other health and social care services will be developed at hospitals without inpatient beds.

About the decision, Dr Jenner added: “This will improve the resilience of care at our community hospitals in the face of financial and workforce challenges.

“We are looking to continually improve services to support people in their local communities whether they are cared for at home or in hospital and this is one step forward on that journey.

“We want to thank all the local people and organisations who have been involved throughout the development of the plans over the last couple of years. We held over 30 public meetings or drop-in sessions and have taken their comments into consideration when making our decision.

“Of course we understand that some people will always want to have community beds in their own area and this decision may disappoint them but making sure everyone has the same level of access to services is very important.”

• What do you think of the decision? Write a letter, suitable for publication, to the Crediton Courier or email: [email protected] .