THE FUTURE of Abingdon Community Hospital will be discussed today at a meeting between Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran and Health Minister Steven Brine.
Ms Moran will be asking for a guarantee from the Government that patients will not face bed cuts or a reduction in services at the hospital as part of Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group's controversial 'transformation plans'.
Last month board members of the CCG approved the first phase of healthcare plans, including centralising acute stroke services, more bed closures and the permanent downgrade of maternity services at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury to a midwife-led unit.
A legal challenge to the changes was last week granted a full hearing.
Ms Moran has already raised concerns about possible cuts to beds and services at the Abingdon hospital in the House of Commons and described the Marcham Road facility as a 'treasured asset'.
She said: “We know that the first phase of the ‘Oxfordshire transformation plan’ saw reductions in services at the Horton General Hospital and in the number of acute beds at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
“I will seek reassurance from the minister, on behalf of my constituents, that the hospital will not lose beds or services and that their voices will be not only heard but acted upon.”
