West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has written to Worcestershire Health and Care Trust asking them to publish the number of people using beds in local community hospitals. The MP has called for the data to be shared following the publication of the draft Sustainability and Transformation Plan which it will make less use of the county’s community hospitals including a reduction in the number of beds. The Trust has considered ‘mothballing’ beds at previous meetings with Harriett but she has strongly resisted the proposals. The public is now being formally consulted on the plan and Harriett repeated her plea to local people to have their say. Harriett commented: “I have seen statements from the Trust saying that they don’t plan to close down any community hospital and I welcome this assurance. “There are three great community hospitals in West Worcestershire, in Tenbury, Pershore and Malvern, and we all want to see them used more, not less. “I have asked the Trust to share the data on community hospital bed usage and we will be able to make a case to protect the beds for people needing step-down care after a serious operation or palliative care. “I will use this data as part of my response to the consultation but I want to repeat my call to local people to make sure they have their say. We need to show just how highly-valued community hospitals like Malvern, Tenbury and Pershore really are to local people.” You can feedback your views by visiting http://www.hacw.nhs.uk/yourconversation/our-stp/