GPs from across the area have voiced their opposition to any plans to do away with in-patient beds at Shepton Mallet Community Hospital.

Fears the hospital's 17 beds are under threat stem from a review by the Somerset Partnership NHS Trust to save cash. The doctors have declared that any such proposals would be "unacceptable".

The Central Mendip GP Federation which is made up of doctors from The Park medical practice and Grove House Surgery from Shepton Mallet, Oakhill Surgery, Bruton Surgery and Millbrook Surgery in Castle Cary are part of a Somerset wide Clinical Commissioning Group which is made up of the eight other federations in the county.

The federations were established in preparation for the government reforms that will require them taking on a commissioning role within the NHS.

This week the Central Mendip GP Federation issued a statement saying it "highly values the services provided at the Shepton Mallet Community Hospital, which includes the in-patient bed facilities as well as the Minor Injury Unit, outpatient department, radiology and physiotherapy services.

"We are aware of the financial pressure within the NHS for services to be more cost effective and that this pressure extends to service provision in Somerset.

"Somerset Partnership has made a proposal that may result in the closure of the inpatient beds (both stroke and general) but maintain the other facilities at Shepton Mallet Community Hospital.

"As a group of practices we have informed them that the current proposal is unacceptable. We will strive to ensure that any service change, should this occur, is shown to be in the best interests of our patients and the community."

And as the fight to save the in-patient beds gathers more strength (see letters page 28) a retired nurse from Shepton has urged people to all become members of the Somerset Partnership NHS Trust.

"Anyone in the area can become a member – if they are over 12 years old," urged Mr Paul Massey from Downside.

"The more members we get on it then the more the Trust has got to listen to us."

He says people should check out www.sompar.nhs.uk to find out how to be become a member or contact the Trust's office on 01278 432026

And he is urging people to attend the General Meeting of the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's Members Council next Tuesday evening.

The meeting, which is open to the public is at 6pm at Monks Yard, Horton Cross Farm, Horton Cross, Ilminster (TA19 9PT).

Mr Massey said: "Anyone who wants to can attend, speak to the secretary before the meeting starts and be able to voice their objections to the review and its proposals."

Objectors of any scheme to close the in-patient beds were due to speak at Tuesday's Shepton Mallet Town Council meeting which was being held as this paper went to press.

But NHS Somerset spokesman Paul Courtney said this week that no decisions have been made yet and at this stage preliminary talks were under way "regarding a review of community services for Shepton Mallet."

He said: "The direction of nationally determined health policy is to seek to deliver more health services in the community whenever practical and safe to do so, including the patient's own home.

"The policy has been supported by national patient surveys and examples of best clinical practice.

"Shepton Mallet Community Hospital currently delivers a range of community services and the respective organisations would like to stress that no decision has been taken to close the hospital's inpatient beds.

"Speculation about potential bed numbers or the configuration of community hospital services in isolation is therefore premature."

He said the Primary Care Trust, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group and Somerset Partnership Trust are planning to establish a review group and this will include representations from patient and carers groups, hospital fundraisers, the Somerset Local Involvement Network (LINks) and family doctors.

"As initial discussions for community health services develop, NHS Somerset and the Somerset Partnership Trust will be actively seeking wider engagement with patients and the public in the spring when there should be a firmer set of identified proposals.

"These proposals will be subject to public consultation," he said.