FEARS have been raised by Oxfordshire's biggest health watchdog over the closure of 20 community hospital beds.

A total of 11 beds at sites run by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust are to be decommissioned while eight beds at Thame are being used elsewhere for a 'trial period'.

Eddie Duller, the outgoing chairman of Healthwatch Oxfordshire, said the organisation had not been formally told about the changes or why they had come about.

He said: "We know some beds are disappearing. Nobody has got a clue yet where they are going to put them; they should be telling the public about this.

"The health service can't suddenly change a model of care without consultation. It's a bit dodgy."

Oxford Health runs nine community hospitals in Oxfordshire and currently provides 153 beds, set to be reduced to 142 as winter demand subsides.

Spokesman Chris Kearney said there were 'predictable' patterns in patient need depending on the time of the year.

But he added: "This decision also took into account the opening of the Chilterns Court care home in Henley.

"Additional beds had been opened in Wallingford whilst awaiting its opening as part of the Townlands Hospital development."

The eight beds at Thame, which is run by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, are being used in 'frailty assessment clinics' instead of inpatient care.

The trust is setting up 'community hubs' at Marlow and Thame for older patients and those with long-term conditions.

Medical director Dr Tina Kenny said: "We want to make health services safe, sustainable and able to meet the future needs of our local population."

The pilot follows similar projects run by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that saw 146 beds closed without consultation.

Earlier this year phase one of a consultation by Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group on NHS 'transformation' included plans to make the closures permanent.

Mr Duller said: "What the CCG has been told to do is to completely change the model of care.

"All of a sudden it's fashionable for people to be looked after in their own homes rather than stay in hospital."

The future of Oxfordshire's community hospitals is to be addressed in phase two of the consultation, which is due to be published this summer.