West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has said that she is reassured that local clinicians and managers value community hospital beds and that there are no currently agreed plans to close beds in Malvern or Tenbury hospitals. The MP was speaking after a meeting with NHS Health and Care chief executive Sarah Dugan. Harriett called for the meeting after reports that the Trust would be seeking to close beds at the county's community hospitals. The suggestions were some of the range of options made at a Trust board meeting last week ahead of a receiving a report looking into the best use of resources. Harriett commented: “Like many of my constituents, I was concerned to read about potential bed closures in our valued community hospitals and requested an urgent meeting to find out the facts. “I am reassured that the community hospital beds are very well used and highly valued. There are no current plans to ‘mothball’ any beds in Malvern or Tenbury. “This is good news especially bearing in mind that they are impressive and popular local facilities. “It is however recognised that the use of community hospitals has to be kept under review to ensure they are as efficient as possible. “I am told that beds in Pershore Community Hospital are under-used at certain times, but in my opinion there needs to be some spare capacity to cope with peak winter pressures. “I support the Trust’s aim to make sure that people are, where possible, cared for in their own homes and I know that almost everyone will agree with that principle. “The Trust is planning to look at a report assessing population demographics over the coming decades and making a plan to use its resources more efficiently," A spokesman for Worcestershire NHS Health and Care Trust added: “The Trust is working with Commissioners to agree a model for the future and meeting patient representatives to discuss the vision moving forward.”