Local MPs Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey) and Anne Milton (Guildford) have jointly written to County Councillor John Ades, Chairman of Surrey County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, about the plans by Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust (PCT) to close 51 community care beds. The Council has the power to set up scrutiny committees to look into measures which impact on the provision of local healthcare.Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey said: ""I am gravely concerned that the Guilford and Waverley Primary Care Trust has decided to make significant changes to the care it provides to the community without giving patients and their relatives sufficient time to consider the proposals. There are significant consequences to making such drastic alterations to bed provision in the area, not least of which is likely to be extended waiting times for elective operations because reducing step down beds will put make it harder for hospitals to discharge elderly patients.""The PCT must put patient care above financial considerations and whilst I understand the predicament this puts them in, we must all do what we can to ensure patients get the quality of care they deserve in an appropriate setting.”Anne Milton, MP for Guildford said: “I am deeply disappointed about the PCT’s proposal. Many people in the local community understandably feel very let down. There has been a complete loss of confidence in the PCT.“The Five Year Strategy document the PCT produced earlier this year listed improvements to community healthcare as one of its’ objectives. We now know that financial considerations are driving the PCT’s decision making and though the financial position needs addressing, it is unacceptable for health services to be damaged in the process. The PCT keeps saying it is listening to local people but local people don’t feel their voice is being heard.“Jeremy and I have received letters from many concerned constituents about the threat to community care. I hope that County Councillor John Ades, Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee, will allow an enquiry to go ahead with full opportunities for residents to make their views known.”