Campaigners fighting cuts to hospital services staged a “virtual protest” ahead of a county council meeting next week.

On Tuesday Bucks County Council’s health and social care select committee will meet in Aylesbury to discuss the community hub pilot launched last year at community hospitals in Thame and Marlow – which aimed to streamline services and bring care closer to people’s homes.

Campaigners joined together to make a stand against rolling community hubs out across the county, and called for beds to be put back into use at Marlow Community Hospital in Victoria Road.

They also said that anyone can join their campaign by sending pictures and comments to savewycombehospital@live.co.uk, in a bid to put pressure on the council and NHS trust.

Read more:

Lead campaigner, Ozma Hafiz, said: “It's difficult for most people to attend the Aylesbury meeting therefore we have decided to arrange a protest which people can take part in from wherever they are. This could potentially get people around them talking too and help raise awareness.

“The meeting on Tuesday 24th April in Aylesbury is an important one. The trust will be presenting their report and we are hoping that questions will actually be answered.

“Early indication shows that beds at Marlow and Thame will remain closed and more 'hubs' may be rolled out. This could potentially mean more bed closures.”

However health bosses have argued there have been calls from residents and stakeholders to implement the scheme across Buckinghamshire following a six-month public engagement investigation- despite a petition against the move rallying 3,000 supporters.

The county council has also been criticised by campaigners for not allowing enough time between publishing the trust’s report and the deadline for submitting public questions ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.

A spokesman for Buckinghamshire NHS Trust defended the hubs, stating double the amount of patients have been supported through the community hospitals than the previous year, and 900 patients a month are being helped to stay independent in their homes.

A statement by the trust said: “If a patient has required an overnight bed, then this has still been available through our other community sites and through local care homes.

“The pilots are ongoing and we have been publishing regular reports through our Board meetings, on our website and discussing with local community groups in Marlow and Thame.

“Next week we will be presenting a comprehensive report and evaluation of the first year of the pilot at the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee in Aylesbury – this will include an overview on next steps.”

Spokesman for Buck County Council, Kim Parfitt, said it is “normal practice” for agendas to be published five working days before the meeting – however in this case it was published several days earlier.

She added that this meant public questions were submitted following the publication of the agenda – so it was removed from the county council website and updated to ensure the public and committee could view the questions before the meeting.

Ms Parfitt said: “The committee receives public questions in accordance with procedures published on the BCC website.

“Questions are requested several days in advance, and in writing, to ensure as full a response as possible can be provided at the appropriate meeting.”