Senior Voice says retaining local in-patient beds is essential to ensure older people’s dignity

Honiton Senior Voice is appealing to health chiefs to withdraw their threat to close local hospital beds.

The call comes in a letter to NHS NEW Devon CCG chief executive Angela Pedder, timed to coincide with Dignity Action Day on February 1.

Senior Voice chairman June Brown tells her: “Our members are very concerned at proposals to withdraw beds from our local hospitals, especially since the consultation has not been able to demonstrate that funding would be available for suitable home based care. Nor has the consultation been able to offer a model of such care to replace hospital based beds.

“As you know older people are at present disproportionately likely to need hospital based care especially those experiencing end of life conditions, such as cancer.

“Honiton surgery state they are ‘very worried about the impact of this closure on our most elderly, frail vulnerable patients and their carers. We are sceptical that proper levels of care will be provided at home’.

“Despite the criticisms of hospital care in the consultation document our members have a high regard for the care delivered at Honiton hospital and wish to see this continue so as to also enjoy the support of family and friends.

“It is in no-one’s interest for older patients who may not need acute care to be occupying much needed beds at RDE and other major hospitals when they can receive nursing care in local hospitals.

“We have members who are already being told by doctors that this may not be possible. This is a cause of great anxiety and distress to members who may need such care in future including those living alone.

“As you may also know Dignity Action Day on February 1 provides an opportunity for all those involved in health and care, along with users, to uphold people’s right to dignity in making use of our health and care services.

“We regard the availability of local health care beds in Honiton as essential to older patients dignity.”

On behalf of our members and many older people we call upon you and the Success Regime to end the uncertainty and to continue to provide sufficient local beds at Honiton hospital.”