Campaigners fighting to save beds at community hospitals in the East Riding say their views are falling on deaf ears.
Mayor of Withernsea Stuart Woodruff said he believed the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) planned to push ahead with changes to healthcare "without listening to the public".
He said: "They are saying that staying as we are is not an option, which means they are going to do something irrespective of the views of the people.
"The trust is blowing this out of all proportion. All people want is to retain their services and that includes beds and minor injuries units."
Patient and campaigner Jean Waters, 59, of Pickering Avenue, Hornsea, said she felt her views were not being listened to by the PCT.
Mrs Waters, who has severe breathing complaint chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said: "They are just not listening. But we are not going to give up the fight."
The comments came after members of the PCT met with hundreds of members of the public on Saturday to explain controversial new proposals.
The meeting, the third of four presentations designed to give campaigners their say, was held in a function room at Tickton Grange Hotel, Tickton, which had a seating capacity of 170.
But more than 250 people - including four coaches from Hornsea and Withernsea - turned up to hear the plans. A number of them had to sit outside the meeting room and the presentation was relayed through a loudspeaker.
PCT plans include moving 57 beds from community hospitals at Beverley, Driffield, Hornsea and Withernsea.
Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, said the venue was in the wrong location for many residents.
He said: "The trust has set out to close every NHS bed in four community hospitals and hasn't managed to hold a meeting in any of those locations.
"Despite this, there were still hundreds of people there and not enough places."
The PCT plans to move the beds to new units and private care homes and create additional bed spaces across the region.
About 60 beds would be in hospitals at Bridlington, Goole and one other location.
Another 50 NHS beds would be put in private care homes, with staff support for a further 100 beds in patients' own homes.
Mr Woodruff said he felt Saturday's meeting was confusing to residents.
He now plans to ask the trust's overview and scrutiny committee to write to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, claiming the trust is not consulting properly.
He said: "These meetings have been arranged so the PCT can tick all the boxes when it presents its report."
But Dr Duncan Ross, director of commissioning and procurement for the trust, said the meetings were to help people understand the plans.
He said: "It is a fairly complex set of proposals and issues and it takes time to put to people in terms of trying to show them the whole package and how it will benefit them."
The proposals have prompted thousands of residents to back the Mail's Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign.
And Withernsea town councillor Marian Mead has given a 2,575-name petition to the PCT.
Dr Rob Blackbourn, a GP in Withernsea, said: "Many people in the area don't have access to a car and won't be able to get to Bridlington or Goole.
"A hospital without beds isn't a hospital - it's a walk-in clinic."
Links
East Riding Of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust
www.erypct.nhs.uk
Mick Pilling (Writes) Chairman SAVE BRIDLINGTON HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN ACTION GROUP
Over the past 4/5 years I have been going to meetings held by these so called PCT Trusts; I have found them to be time wasting, laying on expensive meetings and displays, not coming to meetings with the right answers, stalling for time, NOT listening to the Public and been down right unaccountable. If they want to do anything they'll do it! If the public want it doing there will be a series of meetings and consultations....
Removing beds from 4 regional hospitals is not what the people want, so why can't they listen or have decisions been made already at PCT Trust Board meeting...that's more like it! At this moment in time if a person is transferred out of hospital into care or another hospital they will find there is no money left in Social Services, the Council have a 4/5 tier Care package; if you don't meet that criteria then you won't get the help you would in hospital. I would say to all; keep fighting, keep your chin UP and above all DON'T GIVE IN!!
Mick Pilling (Chairman)
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