Consultant slams ‘insane’ plan to reduce number of hospital beds in Rutland and beyond

Plans to close the inpatient unit at Rutland Memorial Hospital and reduce the number of hospital beds across Leicestershire have been branded ‘pure insanity’ by a senior doctor.

Consultant geriatrician Dr Alex Miodrag received a round applause from members of the public after speaking out at a meeting organised to update people on proposals for health and social care services over the next five years.

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s draft Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) was published in November last year.

Proposals in the 80-page document include losing the in-patient beds at Rutland Memorial Hospital, downgrading Leicester General Hospital and closing the maternity unit at St Mary’s Hospital in Melton Mowbray.

A meeting organised by East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group was held on Tuesday at Voluntary Action Rutland in Oakham.

Full Story on Rutland and Stamford Mercury 27 January 2017