It is hardly surprising that proposals to cut the number of community hospital beds across south Oxfordshire are creating such a fuss.

The protesters are venting their anger through a public consultation.

But looking at Oxfordshire's recent community hospital history, they should not count on their voices being heard.

In 1999, there was uproar when plans were announced to shut Burford, Watlington and Abingdon hospitals.

Despite all the protests, Burford and Watlington were still closed -- saving the NHS £1.35m and leaving residents with long journeys to neighbouring hospitals.

This time, health managers' preferred option is to close three of the six hospitals in south Oxfordshire.

No doubt, they will again get their way.

They have seven options they could choose from, but it is probably easy to work out which one they will pick.

With Didcot a prime choice for the Government's controversial dental treatment centre, that leaves two possibilities.

In both, the future of Witney and Henley hospitals is guaranteed.

It would make little sense to have a hospital and treatment centre in Didcot, so the third hospital to stay open would be Wallingford.

All this is of no comfort to local government which, from tomorrow, must provide more after-care for patients to cut what is commonly known as bed-blocking.

Failure to do so will not only incur the wrath of the health authorities but will also attract hefty fines from central Government.

The cash-strapped county council is already faced with New Year headaches. With fewer beds available to block, some difficult decisions will have to be made in County Hall in 2004.