HEALTH chiefs have been fiercely criticised after the shock news was announced that they have controversially decided to close 10 beds at Farnham Hospital. The Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust (PCT) has made the contentious decision to ignore the advice of Surrey County Council's health scrutiny committee (HSC) to delay a decision to temporarily close 51 community care beds across Waverley, of which 10 are at Farnham Hospital. At a meeting last week, the HSC decided that the PCT needed to formally consult on its plans to temporarily close the beds as part of its controversial bid to slash costs, due to a predicted £6.2 million overspend on its annual budget. Yet after considering the HSC's views, members of the PCT board met last Thursday and reached a unanimous decision to proceed with the temporary axing of the 51 community care beds, of which 27 will reopen immediately for a different purpose. This equates to a net closure of 24 beds until April 2006, 10 of which belong to Farnham Hospital. The estimated savings from the bed closures is £219,000. Jane Dale, interim chief executive of the PCT, said: "The PCT board regrets that it does not have the support of the HSC on this occasion, but remains convinced it must proceed with its original decision to close these beds as an urgent, temporary measure. "If the PCT does not take this action, it will be unable to meet its statutory duty to achieve the £10 million financial control total agreed with the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and will start the next financial year with a minimum of a £26 million deficit, that is likely to have a greater adverse impact on patient care in the future. The SHA has offered non-recurrent support dependent on the PCT achieving financial balance. "The PCT fully intends to reopen these beds next April but is aware that any further delay in closure would lead to a reduction in savings generated. All staff will be found temporary alternative work during the period of closure and no staff redundancies are being proposed. "The PCT does not agree with the HSC that it needs to formally consult on this decision, as there will be an opportunity for formal public discussion on December 1 on the future of the community hospitals and service developments. This consultation will conclude before the planned reopening of those beds closed on a temporary basis," she added. The HSC, an independent watchdog set up to represent the health interests of the community, was surprised by the PCT's decision. A spokesman said: "The HSC is shocked at the announcement made by the PCT that it intends to go ahead and close the beds, ignoring the HSC's judgement that the proposed changes required formal consultation. The HSC is now actively considering its position and has already initiated discussions with the Independent Reconfiguration Panel." The HSC's shock and dismay is shared by Surrey county councillor David Munro. "It's just not on and I am appalled by this news," he said. "There's a proper process and who is the PCT to overturn it? The debate at the HSC was a very reasoned and analytical one and it was based on facts that took the emotion out of the issue. "It became clear during the debate that the closure of the beds would have an adverse effect. From a Surrey point of view, I am particularly worried about the provision of social care for those in the community who are unable to use the 10 beds at Farnham Hospital. I also think the PCT needs to be wary that the enormous amount of sympathy that has been shown over its difficulties is not overturned," he added. Local MP Jeremy Hunt is also angry about the bed closures and has written an urgent letter to the secretary of state for health, Patricia Hewitt. In the letter, he has requested an urgent meeting to discuss the serious situation that the community of Waverley now faces. "I am deeply concerned about the seemingly rash decision by the PCT," he said. "It worries me that this may affect patient welfare, especially as we are now coming into the winter months, which generally has an effect on the most vulnerable in our community. We all understand and sympathise with the pressures the PCT is under from the government, however I feel it is extremely wrong for patient care to be put at risk."
