PLANS to reshape the local NHS were dealt a blow yesterday as councillors voted not to support Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group's proposals.

Cabinet members at Oxfordshire County Council gave approval to a cutting report by its leadership team that called the plans 'confusing', 'not helpful' and 'premature'.

Phase one of a two-stage consultation on the plans is under way and includes the closure of 200 beds and centralising services from the Horton General Hospital to Oxford.

In their report, officers said: "The phasing clearly affects the coherence of the proposals, making it difficult for partner organisations to assess their impact.

"Consultation proposals as they stand are unlikely to satisfy the concerns of people in some parts of the county."

The plans form part of an over-arching sustainability and transformation plan (STP) for Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.

Clinical commissioning groups have been tasked by NHS England with drawing up plans to save millions of pounds, address staff shortages and streamline the NHS.

In their report officers said interplay between the STP and the local consultation was 'unclear and confusing' and proposals dominated by 'specialist clinical evidence'.

They said closing acute beds in hospital was 'a potentially significant issue', adding: "The evidence is not yet available to conclude that this is appropriate.

"There are times in the acute phase of an illness when a hospital bed may be the best place to be. The proposals do not contain the detail we would need about community services for us to have a sensible understanding of their impact on social care. We cannot model the impact on adult social care without more information on patient flow."

At yesterday's meeting in County Hall councillors agreed not to support OCCG's proposals based on the lack of information on the impact to council services.

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group spokesman Richard McCrann said: "We are holding the consultation in two parts as some of the proposals, if agreed, will need implementing quickly to ensure patient safety and deliver effective services.

"We want to encourage patients, the public and organisations to share their views on the proposals and this can be done in a number of ways. 

"People can attend one of the consultation events across the county, respond to the proposals via an online survey or complete a printed version and post it back to us. 

"All views will be considered before any final decisions are made."

For more information and to read the consultation documents visit oxonhealthcaretransformation.nhs.uk