A patients' watchdog opposing bed losses has been given assurances it will be able to monitor how a new hospital wing will run without them.

North East Essex Community Health Council (CHC) opposes the closure of 18 beds when care of the elderly services move to the Gainsborough Wing at Colchester General Hospital next week.

It says the losses will be unsustainable for Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust.

But Trust chief executive Mike Pollard said yesterday: "I believe the CHC should have a further opportunity to meet with frontline health professionals to get their views on if the plans stack up.

"Importantly I think the CHC should be invited to participate in full evaluation and monitoring of the Gainsborough Wing's performance."

Mr Pollard told board members the new £9.2 million wing was a "fantastic building" and showed the trust took its elderly patients seriously.

The Trust has said if it cannot deliver a "safe and accessible service" with 18 fewer beds, then it will open more. Most respondents to a public consultation on the new wing expressed concerns about the bed losses, including parish councils and Age Concern.

Mr Pollard said the Trust would also have to take into account the results of the Government's current national bed inquiry looking at the number of beds in the NHS, while the Trust is carrying out a review of the "reconfiguration" of its beds.

He said the Government's Budget pledge to put more cash into the NHS would help the Trust to live without the beds.

Some £900,000 has been given to the Trust by the health authority to continue its collaborative care project which helps the elderly spend less time in hospital, supporting them at home, so freeing up beds.

CHC chairman Mary Norman said she welcomed moves by the Trust to include it in discussions, but said it would not be until after this the council would decide whether to withdraw its opposition to the bed closures.

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