Sir, In response to your article ‘Town’s growth leads to fear over hospital beds’ in the Herald of July 9. The community hospitals in Oxfordshire are staffed by the Oxford Health Foundation Trust nursing and therapy teams with medical support provided by local GPs or Oxford University Hospital Trusts consultant gerentologists. The Trust is commissioned by the Clinical Commissioning Group to provide episodes of care.

An additional eight beds were provided at Didcot over the winter period as part of the trust’s commitment to easing the winter pressures across Oxfordshire. This extra seasonal capacity was reduced in April as agreed with commissioners in line with local and national winter plans.

This coincided with a change in the medical provision contract which means that we have had to temporarily reduce the number of beds at Didcot from 16 to 12. The trust is working with local GPs and OUH colleagues to resolve this as soon as possible, including undertaking a procurement exercise for medical cover.

The trust does not have plans for permanent changes to the nursing or therapy establishment and the funding for community hospital provision in Didcot remains unchanged.

As a result of these temporary closures, four beds were opened at the Witney site to ensure we are able to maintain patient flow through the whole system.

Yvonne Taylor Chief

Operating Officer

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Gina Shakespeare

Director of Delivery and Localitie

Oxfordshire CCG