'Don't close our hospital beds', campaigners tell health bosses

Those were the passionate words from Alix Martin, former chairwoman of Alston Moor parish council, as she told health bosses how angry the town was at plans to remove their cottage hospital beds.

Leaders of the so-called Success Regime - a scheme put in place to transform health services in north, east and west Cumbria - want to close all of the six inpatient beds at the Ruth Lancaster James Cottage Hospital.

Health chiefs say that due to Alston hospital's "fragile staffing position" it has not been included in any of the options put forward.

A consultation process is underway with a panel of decision-makers hosting a public meeting in Alston.

They were speaking as The Cumberland News continues its Save Our Services campaign to save vital health services across the area as well as support the ongoing bid to protect beds at cottage hospitals.

Townsfolk packed into the hall at Samuel King's School, with people being forced to stand at the back, such was the demand.

At the start of the lively meeting Stephen Childs, the chief executive of the Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), told the audience that no decisions had been made and the proposed changes were not about saving money.

The announcement was greeted with collective groans and laughter by the crowd.

"The savings that will be achieved if the proposed changes are accepted are relatively minor in the grand scheme. The proposals are not about addressing the potential £160m gap," said.

He added the current plans on the table would save around £2m.

Dr Craig Melrose, associate medical director for community at the Cumbria Partnership Trust, offered some explanation as to why Alston's beds were up for the chop.

"In Alston it's a reflection of the size of the unit and maintaining staff at that unit," he said.

"Units of 16 beds and above are more robust and when it gets below that it's harder to run.

"It was a reflection that Alston was a small unit and expanding it to 16 beds wouldn't be beneficial to the whole system.

"It wouldn't have the population to sustain it."

A member of the public, a local architect, put to the panel: "We are the most remote community in Cumbria and it's one of the most disadvantaged."

He added that by constantly having local hospitals and trusts in special measures it would not help attract new staff.

Dr Melrose responded: "If we drop our services down it will be harder to recruit, we have seen that problem have an effect on recruitment in community hospitals.

"But if we have a positive and very clear plan it will be easier to recruit because it will be vibrant."

Another key message the panel kept stressing was that they were willing to listen to alternative proposals brought forward by the community.

Residents, through the hospital's League of Friends, are backing an alternative plan to build a new health centre combining beds, residential care and a GP surgery.

The plans are being finalised and in the process of being submitted to the Success Regime's consultation process.

Campaigners argue that removing beds in the town is short-sighted and the idea of increasing the amount of people being cared for at home is not practical in such a remote area.

One of those campaigners, Jane Mayes, said: "It's not up to managers and clinicians to give away Alston's unique possessions because it doesn't fit in with their plans."

David Moorat, from Brampton, spoke as a resident concerned about the Success Regime's plans and as someone who's worked in health services.

He said: "There are people that are not ill enough to be in the Cumberland Infirmary but are too ill to be at home.

"What will happen at 2am when one of those people are at home and they fall out of bed or fall ill?

"If they were in hospital a nurse would attend to them. I doubt the new service will be provided at 2am.

"I have serious doubts as to whether the new service will be as safe as being in hospital."

Dr Melrose once again responded: "Safety is paramount. What we want to do going forward is improve the care of people in Cumbria.

"We do know we can successfully look after patients at home if we have the right infrastructure.

"People do function better at home, they get fitter and are able to do their own thing."

"Alston is unique, success comes from you as a community," Dr Melrose, added.

"We are very keen to work with you to solve that problem.

"All those services need to be in the mix. We recognise that having something that functions for the community is paramount."

Those behind the Success Regime want to create a number of "integrated care communities" - a concept they say will streamline a raft of health services in a given community.

The headteacher of Samuel King's, Ian Johnson, asked: "Can you guarantee that the beds will stay open until the new system [integrated care community] is fleshed out and in place?"

Dr Melrose again took the microphone and said: "The services will remain open and running until we have other services that are safe that can join up.

"They wouldn't stop and there wouldn't be a gap."

Under the Success Regime options Wigton and Maryport's hospitals will also lose their inpatient beds.

Speaking about community hospital bed closures generally, Mr Childs said: "The strength of feeling in Alston, Maryport and Wigton means it's going to be impossible for the CCG to ignore those concerns."