A major review of community hospitals is being launched on Monday which could lead to beds being centralised and buildings being closed.
Clinical commissioners, responsible for buying healthcare, will launch the review at meetings at Bourne Hall in Ewell. There will also be a launch Elmbridge Civic Centre in Esher on Wednesday.
The governing body of Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is expected to approve the scope of this study at a meeting tomorrow.
The review will cover New Epsom and Ewell, Leatherhead, Dorking and Molesey Community Hospitals - and the CCG is expecting the review to spark a large amount of public and political interest.
As a part of the process, ending on July 31, recommendations will be drawn up on what changes could be made to services.
In board papers for the Friday meeting, the CCG said that only having a dozen beds at each hospital has an impact on efficiency and increases the risk of staffing challenges.
Hospital beds have been moved out of Leatherhead Community Hospital this winter because of nurse shortages. A petition over this temporary ward closure will also be examined on Friday.
Despite a call for move services to move into the community, the CCG noted in its board papers that there are challenges over recruitment and keeping staff.
It said: "NHS Surrey Downs CCG has decided the time is right to undertake a comprehensive review of the services in these community hospitals."
Hospital site access, staff numbers, patient safety and whether buildings are fit for purpose will form part of the study.
Dr Claire Fuller from Surrey Downs CCG
The board paper added: "The review will be both clinically focused and clinically led, putting patients and their needs at the centre of the process."
As part of the consultation process there will be public meetings, educational events and online surveys as well as the creation of working groups.
In a statement on the CCG's website, its chairman Dr Claire Fuller said: "We believe that patient care can be better if we do things differently.
"Our community hospitals and other community services are critical for improving the way we care for our patients and address the challenges of an ageing society, increasingly complex healthcare needs and financial pressures.
"We want to ensure our community services, and the sites they work from, are used in the best possible way.
"Keeping things the same isn’t an option. We will involve people that use services in this review and keep our local population informed throughout."
Governing Body Meeting; Cobham Hilton, Seven Hills Road South, Cobham; Friday, February 27; 1pm to 3.30pm
Community Hospital Services Review launch Events:
- Bourne Hall, Spring Street, Ewell; Monday, March 2; 2pm to 4pm
- Council chamber, Elmbridge Civic Centre, High Street, Esher; Wednesday, March 4; 7 to 9pm
- Burford Bridge Hotel, Dorking; Thursday, March 5; March, 7 - 9pm,
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