Council leader calls for halt to hospital bed closures

Plans to close beds at community hospitals have sparked anger Credit: ITV Border

Councillors have today called for urgent talks with the NHS over the threat to beds at Cumbria’s community hospitals.

Cumbria County Council leader Stewart Young said the loss of beds in Alston, Wigton and Maryport should be halted until alternative solutions are in place and fully funded.

At today’s council cabinet meeting he spoke of councillor’s disappointment at the recent decision by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to support proposals put forward by the the Success Regime, to close community hospital beds in the three towns.

The council’s Health Scrutiny Committee will meet on March 22nd to review the plans.

Read more: What’s happening to patient beds at three hospitals.