Invite extended to all residents and East Devon MP Sir Hugo Swire

Organisers of a public meeting to discuss proposed hospital bed cuts are calling on East Devon’s MP to join and help fight the cause.

Campaigners are inviting people from across the district to attend a gathering on Friday, December 9, from 7.30pm, in Sidmouth Parish Church, in response to plans that could see the town lose its 24-bed inpatient unit.

Several community hospital beds around the county are under threat as the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) seeks to change to a more ‘home-based model of care’ and plug a predicted £384million deficit by 2020/21.

One of the organisers, Robert Crick, has issued a call for the community to join ‘urgent talks’ and East Devon MP Sir Hugo Swire – who has raised concerns about the cuts in Parliament has been invited.

Mr Crick said the idea to mobilise individuals and groups in a public meeting was born out of dissatisfaction with the CCG’s ongoing consultation into the proposals and a feeling that asking the public to choose one of four set options does not offer people enough choice.

He is calling on residents and Sir Hugo Swire to resist the CCG’s proposals and demand the Government restores funding levels for NHS and social care.

There is also a county-wide rally planned in Exeter on Saturday, December 3. For more information, call Robert on 01395 519292.