72 beds are to be cut from 143 in all, with four options that will be consulted on, although health bosses have a preferred option of keeping beds at Tiverton, Seaton and Exmouth.

Other hospitals at risk of losing all their inpatient beds are: Sidmouth and Whipton Hospital in Exeter

Health chiefs hope that the bed cuts will save £5-6m a year, with around 20 to 40 per cent of current running costs reinvested in creating health hubs and providing more care in people’s homes.

Some councillors had a briefing this afternoon from the chief executive of the “success regime” which has been drafted in by government to make significant cuts to counteract a deficit of around £430m by 2020.

We should remember that this area of Devon has already lost all inpatient beds at Ottery St Mary, Axminster, Crediton and Budleigh Salterton.

Discharging people from the RD&E in Exeter has never been more difficult.

Not only is there a funding crisis in the local NHS, there is also a funding crisis in social care locally, which is one of the reasons why people are unable to be discharged in a sensible length of time. This budget is hugely overspent at Devon County Council.

The consultation on the bed cuts is set to start on 7 October, with a decision made next February by the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon CCG (NEW Devon CCG). If agreed proposals will be implemented in March.

For my views on hospital bed losses see – http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/health_scrutiny_committee_to_ask_to_health_select_committee_to_investigate