AN independent health watchdog has revealed the results of its public survey into the future of services at Clevedon Community Hospital.

The document has been published by Healthwatch North Somerset after it held a meeting on November 21 to give people the chance to have their say on what services should be provided at the Old Street facility.

North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is responsible for deciding what health services are provided in the district, is looking into expanding outpatient and diagnostic clinics at the hospital while it also considers whether to keep inpatient beds there or move them to one or two nursing homes or to a specially-created residential unit for rehabilitation patients.

Following November’s meeting, Healthwatch North Somerset received 194 responses showing people’s opinions on the issue.

Of these, 70 per cent of respondents said they want to see inpatient provision remain at the hospital while outpatient services are expanded in their existing space.

One third said hardly anything should be changed, 17 per cent voted for the option that would see inpatient beds moved elsewhere and one per cent voted for ‘something else’ to be done.

The survey also asked for the main reasons why people choose to go to the Clevedon hospital, with three quarters quoting the fact it is easy to travel to. Second to this was the reputation of the hospital, which 60 per cent of respondents also chose.

A public meeting on the future of services at the hospital, organised by those keen to see beds retained in the facility, will be held at Clevedon Community Centre in Princes Road at 7pm tomorrow (Thurs).

The speakers at the meeting will include North Somerset MP Dr Liam Fox, Julia Elton and Dr Helen Tucker, vice president of the Community Hospitals Association which promotes the retention of community hospitals in the UK.