Hospital closure plans discussed

The trusts say hospitals with less than 30 beds are inefficient

Members of the public are being asked for their views on plans to close more than half the hospitals in South Oxfordshire.

Under proposals from two primary care trusts, up to four of the six institutions could be shut.

They say it is inefficient to run so many small hospitals with less than 30 beds.

The hospitals under threat are Didcot, Abingdon, Henley, Wallingford, Wantage and Witney.

The trusts have launched a period of informal public consultation to let members of the communities concerned have their say.

'Nothing decided'

The Chief Executive of South West and South East Oxfordshire Primary Care Trusts, Mary Wicks, said nothing has been decided yet.

"We have got six community hospitals and we are looking at a number of options," she said.

"We are engaging very informally with the public - this is not a formal public consultation - to say genuinely, we are sharing with you and we would like to develop services."

She said one of the major concerns raised so far had been transport arrangements, and this would be addressed.

"You need to tell us what your concerns are," she said, "We value our community hospitals and we value the care we offer and we value our staff."