Burnham-On-Sea’s MP Ashley Fox says he fears Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s denial of proposals to cut bed numbers at Burnham’s Hospital is “disingenuous”.
The MP has spoken out amid local concerns that bed numbers are set 1to be 1cut back at the town’s War Memorial Hospital in Love Lane.
16 beds are currently funded at Burnham’s hospital, with the facilities able to expand to 20 beds during peak demand.
The 16 beds are always occupied, yet staff have been sent a letter this month outlining how the Somerset NHS Trust is potentially planning to cut back the bed numbers.
However, a spokesperson for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust denies this, saying: “There are no plans to permanently close any beds at Burnham on Sea War Memorial Hospital. The hospital remains at the centre of our plans to deliver more services to local people in line with the Government’s forthcoming 10-year plan and this year we will be continuing to invest in maintaining and improving the building.”
“The 10-Year Health Plan, which is due to be published by the Government imminently, will centre on three key shifts, one of which is moving services from large district general hospitals to communities, and we are working with NHS Somerset to develop what this could look like across the county.”
“In recent years, there has been an increase in NHS services provided in people’s own homes and there has also been a significant investment this year in community reablement services that will enable more people to be supported at home following an acute hospital admission. Only about one in three people in a community hospital bed in Somerset comes from the hospital’s local area and we believe more local people can be supported in their homes, or closer to home.”
“As part of this, we are currently having early conversations with colleagues and local partners to understand local health needs and consider how best to implement the hospital to community shift in the 10-Year Health Plan with the hospitals potentially providing a much greater range of outpatient services based on local need.”
Burnham’s MP Ashley Fox responds: “I fear that the comments provided by NHS management are disingenuous. Staff have been provided with letters in which bed reductions have been specifically mentioned. This was repeated at a meeting I had with senior NHS officials. A final decision may not have been made but bed reductions certainly appear to be the preferred option.”
“I believe that reducing beds would be short sighted. The beds in question are full. If they are removed, where will future patients go and how will care be provided?”
“The Trust should design a plan to improve care for local people. Having done so they should then start a consultation process. Instead, they have started by talking about reducing beds and have caused fears of the hospital being closed. If the Trust genuinely has no plans to close beds then this would appear to be a lesson in how not to communicate effectively.”
