NHS bosses in Somerset have been accused of "putting the chicken before the egg" when it comes to possible closures of community hospital beds.

The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust operates 13 inpatient wards across its 11 community hospitals, located in Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard, Crewkerne, Frome, Glastonbury, Minehead, Shepton Mallet, South Petherton, Wellington, Williton and Wincanton.

Following the publication of the government's ten-year plan for the NHS, the trust is consulting on proposals to close, relocate or re-purpose inpatient beds, with more emphasis being placed on "pathway beds" to get patients out of acute hospitals and being able to receive further treatment at home.

Somerset Council's adults and health scrutiny committee met in Bridgwater to discuss the issue on Thursday morning (August 21), with councillors raising concerns that the proposals had not been properly developed and would lead to a drop in services.

Health bosses responded that no final decisions had been made and that the changes could lead to a wider range of services being offered at a local level.

Numerous members of the public expressed their concerns at the meeting on Thursday (August 21), raising concerns about the lack of consultation up to this point.

Mel Warburton said: "A&E departments are overstretched due to demand, and they are unable to source beds as required – some of which is due to bed-blocking.

"It is imperative that smaller community hospitals are utilised, playing a pivotal role in transitioning those no longer needing the level of essential care provided within the main hospital, but who are not yet able to live independently or be supported in a care facility."

Ceri Joyce, chair of the Friends of Burnham Hospital, said: "We recognise that change must take place, and it's essential to follow best medical practices.

"Burnham's public transport is very poor and unreliable; many of our residents are reliant on it.

"Prior to any changes, appropriate local facilities must be in place to support patients who need inpatient beds."

Bridgwater resident Taz Haysham said: "Why was there no public consultation before these decisions were made?

"What provisions are in place for patients who can no longer access local hospital beds?

"How many additional carers, district nurses, or community health staff will be recruited to support care at home?"

Councillor Gill Slocombe, who chaired the meeting, said she and her fellow committee members wished to keep a close eye on any changes to ensure the public were being properly represented.

She said: "Most of the public feel like this is putting the chicken before the egg – they weren't given the opportunity to be asked: 'What do you think?

"What you're really saying is that you won't know how it's going to work unless we try it.

"As a committee, we want to be with you every step of the way. We need to keep on this.

"We want the public to feel confident that if we are doing this, they are on board with it."

Councillor Sarah Wakefield, portfolio holder for adults' services, housing and homelessness, said any changes to the health service had to be motivated by patients' best interests, pointing to the recent successes of the My Life, My Future programme.

She said: "That programme was all about seeing people into a better situation more quickly, to keep people at home for longer, and to make sure they could go back home to recover, because that's where most people want to be.

"There's no point being taken out of an acute hospital to be put in another bed. It just makes you less fit to carry on with your life.

"Losing beds doesn't mean your loved ones won't be treated properly."

Dr Charles Davis, consultant in palliative medicine and associate medical director at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said community hospitals were "an emblem of a community's health" but said there was a need for services to evolve to meet modern needs.

He said: "These changes are difficult for us and for members of the public.

"We need to make sure we are not wasting time with an inefficient system which is keeping people away from their homes.

"Our community hospitals' role in rehabilitation is a really important part of their role now, and it will be important in their future."

Trust chief executive Dr Andy Heron said that the community hospitals would continue to play a vital role in delivering health services in Somerset.

He said: "The community hospitals represent a massive opportunity. The ten-year plan is, in my view, perfect for Somerset.

"It is so much more difficult delivering healthcare to a rural population. The previous model of care that we've had has been very much centred around large, acute hospitals.

"This is our time, and if we didn't have community hospitals, we'd probably have to go out and get them.

"What we want to do with local communities is have a conversation about what's important to them.

"We can talk about a menu of possibilities, which includes urology and chemotherapy. We've begun to deliver the latter out in community hospitals, and there's so much more potential for that.

"If we do reduce beds, that will partly be a reflection of those conversations."

NHS Somerset is staging numerous in-person events over the summer and early-autumn under the 'Big Conversation' banner, allowing people to have their say on the ten-year health plan and its local implications.

NHS Somerset will have a presence at the following events and locations:

• August 26: Wincanton Cares Community Talking Table, Morrisons, Southgate Road, Wincanton
• August 27: Wacky Wednesday, Wellington Park, Wellington
• September 2: Williton Talking Cafe, Williton Pavilion Hall, Roberts Street, Williton
• September 20: Chard Market, A30 Fore Street, Chard
• September 27: Crewkerne Farmers' Market, Falkland Square, Crewkerne
• September 27: Taunton Together, The Square, Taunton

If you are unable to attend any of these events, you can complete the online survey by visiting www.nhssomerset.nhs.uk/big-conversation-2025, email [email protected] or send a written response to NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board, Wynford House, Lufton Way, Yeovil, BA22 8HR, Freepost RRKL-XKSC-ACSG.

The adults and health scrutiny committee is expected to receive an update on the proposals in the autumn.