WEST Somerset councillors have expressed “grave concerns” about the future of local hospital services following the closure of six stroke patient beds at Williton hospital.

During a searching four-hour scrutiny committee meeting last Thursday, councillors questioned two health authorities – the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – about reasons for the beds closure.

The meeting was presented with a 2,193-signature petition by Barbara Heywood, secretary of the hospital’s League of Friends, calling for the beds to be kept open.

Members were told that the hospital’s 12 stroke beds had been 90-100 per cent occupied since the beginning of the year and the hospital was constantly being asked if it could take more patients to free up beds in Taunton.

Speakers from the floor spoke of the hospital’s excellent reputation for its care in stroke rehabilitation.

Former district council chairman, Alderman Eddie May said that, although West Somerset had a higher than average number of stroke victims, it had only six stroke beds compared with South Somerset’s 16.

“The day the stroke beds were closed in Williton a local man had to be kept in Musgrove Park Hospital for another week, blocking the bed for other patients. It doesn’t make sense,” he said.

This point was taken up by Margaret Tatham, lead of the local Dementia Action Alliance, who said there remained a need for rehabilitation beds in Williton and also as a halfway house for patients leaving Musgrove.

“We all know that the present plans will lead to bed-blocking at Musgrove – in fact exacerbating the problem that is there already.

“It seems almost crazy to be shutting the beds even on a temporary basis, in January when there is most need and the weather makes access to homes even harder.”

She added: “Please rethink the plans, otherwise bed-blocking and huge problems at Musgrove will result. That is the best case scenario. The worst case is that people will die unnecessarily.”

Local resident Anne Henson asked several questions: “Where will Minehead patients be treated when demands on the stroke beds increases? Will this be a diluted service?

“We know there is a lack of community/rehab beds. With a growing population and an ageing population, will the community keep pace? Will this not put additional pressure on the district general hospital?”

A volunteer at Williton hospital, Rona Troman, brought along her dog Charlie who, she said, regularly visits patients: “Charlie likes to listen to what patients have to say!

“Patients should be put first and this is what they do at Williton. The staff are friendly, very professional and act in an exemplary way.”

She said many stroke victims, both young and old, are frightened: “What will happen to them when they go home?”

In a report, Marcus Prouse, democratic services officer, told committee members that officers of the Somerset CCG had been invited to answer questions on the closure of the hospital’s stroke beds posed by councillors and concerned members of the public, including the hospital’s League of Friends.

Many of the questions concerned the CCG’s “early release supported discharge scheme” for stroke patients which involved their receiving care in their own homes. The CCG had said that only 40 per cent of patients could benefit from this scheme.

Mr Prouse’s report noted: “This leaves 60 per cent that will need support via a community hospital rehabilitation bed. However, the CCG are closing 50 per cent of the bed allocation in the area.”

CCG officials were questioned about what allowances – both in fuel and time – had been made for therapists visiting patients in their homes in remote areas:

Had the time to travel even short distances in the tourist season also been factored in?

Had problems caused by bad weather or road closure been taken into consideration to ensure continuity of care and if so, what measures had been put in place?

In reply, the meeting was told that all those factors had been considered when services were commissioned and much had been learned from a Mendip pilot scheme which involved events such as Glastonbury and experience of extreme weather including floods.

“This learning has been built on over the past 15 months of operation in West Somerset, which has included poor weather conditions, tourism and local events such as Dunster Show.

“The local community staff delivering this service have a significant level of experience in managing people in their own homes.”

Full report in the Free Press