HORRIFIED residents of Bourton will be marching in Cheltenham on July 22 in protest at "drastic" plans to do away with most of the beds at Moore Cottage Hospital.

Their move follows a outcry from residents in Winchcombe who stand to lose their hospital completely under the cuts proposed to rid the county's three primary care trusts of more than £30m of debt.

The Friends of Moore Cottage Hospital have called on residents to voice their outrage at the cuts at a consultation meeting being held by Cotswold and Vale PCT at St Lawrence's Church on Tuesday, July 18 at 1pm and 5pm.

This will be followed by a public demonstration on July 22 with protesters meeting at 10.30am at Pittville Park, Cheltenham, to march to the town centre at 11am and then on to Montpelier.

Chairman of the Friends, Philip Winter, said: "This is drastic. The PCT proposes to close all beds and cut services at Moore Cottage to a very low level. We stand to lose our minor injury unit, outpatient clinics, day hospital and beds.

"We believe that we need beds at Bourton for when our doctors believe local residents need a brief hospital stay with treatment, to provide brief convalescence for patients after major treatment before returning home, and to allow local people to end their days among their friends and community."

Bourton's six local GPS have also hit out at the loss of Moore Cottage Hospital's six acute beds, saying: "We are disappointed by the decision to close the acute medical beds at Bourton, which we feel has been made for financial rather than clinical reasons.

"While the PCT has stopped short of closing the hospital completely, the GPs will now be unable to admit and care for our own patients locally when they are acutely ill."

The Friends have called on residents to act in good time before Monday, September 4 when the public consultation ends.

Another meeting is scheduled to be held at Cotswold District Council offices in High Street, Moreton, on July 26.

Joanna Wynn, for the PCT, said: "At Bourton, we have proposed re-developing Moore Cottage Hospital to provide a specialist intermediate care facility with 10-15 intermediate care beds and a base for a new community care team, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and social care workers.

"Nearby Moreton District Hospital would be replaced by a new health campus, with two GP surgeries, 20-25 beds for observation, nursing, therapy and rehabilitation, diagnostic facilities, such as X-ray, and a minor injuries unit.