Agenda item

14:10

To include an update on OX12, co-opted members and communications.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby spoke regarding the letter from the Chairman on the OX12 report.  If the inpatient beds are closed at Wantage Hospital then people, including many elderly people, will have to travel 30 miles and be more remote from family and friends leading to a risk of depression.  She warned that other community hospitals may follow if they close Wantage.  She believed that Oxford Health and the OCCG were not paying attention to the democratic wishes of local people.  She thanked the Chairman for keeping this issue on the agenda for so long.

The Chairman responded that the position appeared to be that Oxford Health does not currently see the business case for keeping the inpatient beds but that they are open to exploring it further.