THE threat of closure of 10 beds at Farnham Hospital has been temporarily removed after health chiefs criticised the Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust's controversial cost cutting measures.

Surrey County Council's independent health and scrutiny committee met last Thursday to discuss proposals by the Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust (PCT) to axe 51 community care beds across the Waverley borough.

As a result of the meeting, the committee, an independent watchdog set up to represent the health interests of the community, has asked the PCT not to go ahead with the bed closures, which were scheduled to take place last Saturday.

At the committee's request, the PCT has to attend a public meeting in Godalming on October 17 to give an account of its proposals, and the committee could yet refer the matter to the Secretary of State.

Committee chairman John Ades said: "From the evidence presented to the committee at our meeting on September 29, the closure of these beds appears to be a substantial variation in service delivery.

"We have, therefore, as a matter of urgency asked Guildford and Waverley PCT to attend a meeting on October 17 in the community which the changes affect. We are aware of local concerns about these plans, which have been made without any formal consultation, and will use the power we have to ensure that any changes are in the health interests of the local area."

The PCT announced plans to axe 10 beds temporarily at Farnham Hospital at a board meeting on Thursday September 22. The bed closures in Farnham and across Waverley are directly attributable to the major financial crisis the PCT is currently facing due to a predicted £6.2 million overspend on its annual budget.

At the PCT's annual general meeting last Thursday, Jane Dale, the PCT's interim chief executive, admitted that the Waverley borough could face even more radical health cuts in the future if the PCT's financial position doesn't improve.

"If we don't achieve our financial recovery plan then we could start next year with a debt in excess of £26 million. Financial balance must be our number one priority."

The PCT's prioritising of financial issues instead of patient healthcare has outraged MP's, local councillors and medical staff. In the past two weeks, The Herald been contacted by two members of nursing staff at Farnham Hospital. The staff members, who wished to remain anonymous, have voiced their disgust at the possible bed closures and have even threatened to resign over what they see as the lowering of standards in patient care.

Their concerns are shared by Waverley and Surrey County councillor Pat Frost.

"I am very concerned about the possible bed closures and I think the PCT is going about it in an underhand way," she said. "I think they are riding roughshod over everybody and I think the affect it will have on patient care is absolutely tragic."

Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey, has also been outspoken in his criticism of the PCT. He had previously written to the health and scrutiny committee about his concerns and on Wednesday announced the launch of the Cross-Community Campaign Group.

The group has been started by Mr Hunt and Anne Milton, MP for Guildford, in direct response to the PCT's decision to close community beds and it has already attracted the support of David Black, the Labour representative for South West Surrey.

"This group is an important vehicle for Anne and myself to mobilise local support across the Guildford and Waverley against the ill- conceived and overly hasty decisions made by the PCT to save money at the expense of beds," said Mr Hunt. "The PCT has to realise that while it does have a responsibility to balance its books, it has a higher duty to ensure patients receive the best care available in a setting appropriate to their needs."

Surrey County Council's health and scrutiny committee will hear the PCT's intentions at a meeting to be held at Godalming Baptist Church at 2-30 pm on Monday, October 17.

Members of the public are welcome to attend.