Community hospital campaigners have been left feeling uncertain about whether or not beds can be saved following a decision by health chiefs.

NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group ’s (CCG) governing body approved a controversial option that will see beds in Maryport, Wigton and Alston close and Penrith lose four – seeing total numbers in the county drop from 133 to 104.

But they also agreed a caveat – to continue working with local campaigners on alternative plans, which the League of Friends groups hope could safeguard the beds.

Many protesters left Workington meeting yesterday unsure of what had been agreed.

Others said they were disappointed, and angry, the CCG hadn’t deferred the bed closure decision until after these plans had been worked through.

But Claire Molloy , chief executive of the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust , which runs the cottage hospitals, has sought to reassure them.

She described it as a “very strong” caveat, and gave them the go-ahead to push ahead with the work they have already been doing.

She added there would be no sudden bed closures. Instead they would be working to improve community care, and would only shut them if they were no longer needed.

“We are not looking to close any beds until we get to that point. We are several years away from those changes,” she said.

Eveline Dugdale, of Wigton League of Friends, and Malcolm Forster, of Alston, said they felt they had been given permission to continue working on their local plans, and they would continue pushing to ensure they are properly considered.

“I’m grateful they’re prepared to accept our option five and run with it. Although they’ve approved option one they have also included our plans in it. For now it’s the best we could have hoped for,” said Mrs Dugdale.

A big part of these plans is to combine NHS beds on the same site as social care, making them easier to staff.

But Jane Mayes, of Alston, is now concerned the CCG decision to reduce total bed numbers will result in their community hospital becoming nothing more than a care home.

“This option still closes all medical beds at Alston and envisages them being replaced by social care beds run presumably by the council and local people. So Alston hospital will be turned into a care home,” she said.

“The whole purpose of the Alston alternative is to combine medical and social care resources so fewer people have to go elsewhere. The fight to keep the hospital as a medical facility with medical beds must continue.”


Maurice Tate Maurice Tate, of Maryport’s League of Friends, was also angry and worried about the decision.

He said: “The CCG have laid on their backs and waved it through. They have acknowledged the fact three community hospitals are working to come up with plans.

“But they have just rubber-stamped the proposals to close the beds, it’s a joke.”

Mr Tate added he had hoped they would defer the decision while the plans were properly tested.

Bill Barnes, of the Save Our Beds campaign in Maryport, said he felt the caveat was simply buying the CCG time to find a reason to close the beds.

“They will be hoodwinking and conning us for the next 12 months as they have done for the last,” he said.

Workington MP Sue Hayman called for more clarity on what exactly will happen next.

“I am disappointed at plans to remove the in-patient beds from the community hospitals in Maryport, Wigton and Alston. It’s important we get more detail on the proposed process of co-production with local stakeholders in order to deliver alternative care options in our communities,” she said.

Before committee members took their decision, Sue Stevenson, of Healthwatch Cumbria, warned during the consultation there had been “utter dismay” that none of the options put forward allowed for beds in Wigton, Alston and Maryport staying open.

She added: “The message must be clear that in these places, community hospitals are such a vital part of their life.”

Governing body member Jon Rush referred to new rules being brought in by NHS England boss Simon Stevens who said beds would not be allowed to close until trusts could prove proper alternatives were in place.

But Charles Welbourn, chief finance officer, stressed at present, beds are being forced to close temporarily because they can’t find enough nurses to staff them.