The NHS has announced ambitious plans, backed by the government, to remodel the health service in England. The sustainability and transformation plans (STPs), as they are known, include big changes to the role of many hospitals, including the rundown of A&E and maternity units. The aim is to plug a £22bn black hole in health service funding.
There are plans in many parts of England to reduce the number of beds in community hospitals and to shut some of those hospitals altogether. These hospitals play a key role in helping rehabilitate mainly elderly patients, for example those who’ve just had a spell in hospital.
The plans have proved controversial in some parts of the country. In Devon, for example, hundreds of protesters marched in Paignton in February calling for a referendum on plans to close four community hospitals.
Share your stories
We want to hear specifically about the closure of community hospitals. Does a community hospital near you face closure or a loss of beds? How will it affect you and your family? Are you campaigning against it? What has been done locally? Or are you in favour of the changes? Share your views and stories with us.
