East Hampshire’s MP has vowed to pay “close attention” to health chiefs and their plans for Petersfield Hospital amid the looming closure of a rehabilitation and palliative care ward.

The Hampshire NHS Trust wants to close 21 rehabilitation beds at the Rowan Ward as part of a wider bid to expand home-based care across South East Hampshire.

And although no formal changes will take place until commissioners at the Hants & IOW Integrated Care Board make a decision, staff have already reportedly been told the ward will close in late January.

Damian Hinds MP acknowledged the Trust made a “strong case for the principle of people being able to be cared for at home” in a presentation they gave to a Hampshire County Council committee last week.

But while he has welcomed some concessions, he says there are still a number of outstanding questions for people in and around Petersfield and Alton that need answering.

“It is vital we scrutinise these decisions and their impact locally – and that is what I have been doing,” said Mr Hinds in a statement to the Post & Herald.

“Last week’s Health and Adult Social Care (HASC) Select Committee hearing was a key opportunity to hold services to account on behalf of local residents.

“Councillors Andrew Joy, Marge Harvey and Andy Tree all put pertinent scrutiny questions to health chiefs, and Councillor Rob Mocatta made an important additional deputation.

“I continue to have concerns, but I am pleased that some mitigations and contingencies have been added to the original plan. This includes a small amount of ‘surge’ bed capacity at Petersfield Hospital to be used during periods of high demand for inpatient rehabilitation.

“Crucially, the Trust and the ICB have also agreed to report back on what happens in practice, particularly regarding the availability of community hospital beds in Alton and Petersfield for those that need them.

“I will continue to pay close attention to this as it is so important to local people, for them and their families, when it matters most.

“We must also remember that these changes centre on dedicated staff, many of whom have faced months of uncertainty about their future roles.”

More in this week’s Post & Herald.