CONTROVERSIAL plans to close community hospital beds in the New Forest could be referred to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt for further investigation.

New Forest Primary Care Trust has suggested getting rid of beds at Fordingbridge, Milford, Lyndhurst and Hythe as part of its cost-cutting and modernisation strategy.

Instead, it wants to provide services in patients' homes and community buildings.

The proposals have provoked outrage and led to angry outbursts at consultation meetings, a protest rally and a 40,000-signature petition opposing the plans.

This week New Milton Town Council, which is opposing the scheme, heard from the county council.

In a letter sent on behalf of the county's chairman of the health overview and scrutiny committee, Cllr Dr Ray Ellis, the council said:

"We are able to refer a decision that is not in the interests of local people to the Secretary of State for further investigation.

"We have already written to the chief executive of the PCT highlighting a number of concerns, many of which have been reflected in comments from local residents."

Earlier, Cllr Ellis said committee members "are deeply concerned that communities across the New Forest have been alienated by the consultation that has taken place to date".

He also said there has been no assessment of the impact of the options presented on the viability of the community hospital sites.

"We are aware of the financial pressures on local NHS services and the massive £27.5 million deficit that the New Forest PCT must plan to recover in 2005/6."

While recognising modernisation is needed, the current proposals are "in our view divisive, not least because staff or local GPs have stated so publicly that they do not support the proposals".

Cllr Ellis also had concerns about the lack of information about community nursing teams, how quickly they could respond in an emergency and how services could be provided in community settings.

"We accept that most people would prefer to remain at home if possible.

"If admission is required, however, most people would rather be admitted to a community hospital rather than an acute hospital."

No information had been received about the financial modelling that had taken place to demonstrate "the options outlined are affordable or sustainable" and "we remain deeply concerned about the recruitment and retention of staff".

First published: October 21