THE date for the NHS public consultation meeting relating to potential in-patient bed closures at Okehampton Hospital has been announced — and people wishing to attend are being urged to register their interest.

NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (NEW Devon CCG) has released the dates for a series of public consultations regarding the proposed removal of half of the community hospital in-patient beds across its eastern locality. It has announced that two public meetings will be held in Okehampton on Wednesday, November 16; these will give people the chance to share their opinions with those directly involved with making decisions on bed closures.

People in eastern Devon who wish to be involved in deciding where community hospital beds could be located in the future are being urged by NHS NEW Devon CCG to reserve places at the public meetings being held in November and December.

The first meeting in Okehampton will take place in the Charter Hall from 2pm to 4.30pm and the second meeting will follow shortly after at 5pm until 7.30pm.

Everyone who wishes to attend the public meeting can register by calling 01392 356084 or emailing [email protected]

Your Future Care is a public consultation by the NEW Devon CCG to provide care and support at home and in the community for the elderly and frail, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and supporting a faster return home. The CCG has said that the new model of care will reduce the need for community hospital beds and we are consulting the public on where the remaining beds should be located.

Clinicians will join commissioners at the events to explain the new model of care proposed, with opportunity for discussion. NEW Devon CCG has said that those who have registered will be guaranteed a place and where there is demand, further meetings will be organised to ensure that everyone who wishes to have their say is listened to.

The Your Future Care consultation document has now been published and is available on the CCG’s website where there is also a summary of the proposals.

NEW Devon CCG is considering five options, one which allows the public to present their preferred option of healthcare in the area, including the retention of beds at Okehampton Hospital.

The fifth option was only added after community feedback, including the launch of the ‘Save our Beds’ campaign by Okehampton residents.

The campaign reached notable success this week as the petition to save the hospital beds has already reached over 1,000 signatures.

As well as the meetings organised by the CCG on November 16, Okehampton Town Council has organised a public meeting on November 11 at the Charter Hall from 7.30pm. Councillors will speak on issues surrounding the proposed bed closures, invited guests will have the chance to respond according to their specialist knowledge and then the floor will be open to pre-submitted questions from members of the public.

West Devon Borough Cllr Mike Davies, who set up the ‘Save Our Beds’ Facebook group and online petition, said: ‘We are keeping focused on the hard copies of the petition as these will be hand delivered to Westminster. These are in over 30 establishments in and around the Okehampton area. These will be delivered to Westminster in December.

‘The online petition has exceeded 1,200 signatures and is growing fast. We will keep pushing for the 10,000 online signatures as this is the required amount to obtain a Parliamentary response.

‘It is important that we all work together. The closure of the beds at Okehampton Hospital not only effects Okehampton, but Chagford, Hatherleigh, North Tawton, Morton-hampstead and all the surrounding villages. Let’s keep united and continue fighting for the saving of our beds and other medical services in Okehampton.

‘We are asking people to make a note of the key dates in our campaign, including November 3 when we will be protesting outside of County Hall in Exeter where NEW Devon CCG will be holding a meeting at 1pm.’

Cllr Davies added that on November 8 there will be a Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee meeting at County Hall at 2pm.

Cllr Davies said: ‘Another key date is November 11, when there will be a public meeting held by the town council in Charter Hall, Okehampton, at 7.30pm. Then, November 16 for the NHS Devon CCG public consultations in Okehampton.

‘It is vital we all attended the public consolations on Wednesday, November 16. These meetings have being organised by NHS themselves, however, spaces need to be booked through the CCG.’

Town Mayor Cllr Jan Goffey, who will be joining the protest outside of County Hall in Exeter next week, said that there will be a minibus leaving the Community Transport Office in Okehampton at 11am and that there are some seats still available. For more information, send an email to [email protected]