NORTHERN, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (NEW Devon CCG) could have decided the fate of Okehampton Hospital’s in-patient beds by Thursday as its governing body meets to discuss the plans.

Last September, NEW Devon CCG unveiled its plans to cut half of the in-patient beds in its eastern locality, which includes all 16 beds in Okehampton. The current 143 beds across the locality’s hospitals are to be reduced to 72 beds located at three hospitals instead of the seven used at present.

In all four of the CCG’s preferred options, Okehampton Hospital would lose all its in-patient beds.

After a public consultation period labelled ‘Your Future Care’, a decision is due soon on the plans. The latest step towards a final decision is a meeting of the CCG’s governing body on Thursday afternoon at Exeter Racecourse.

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