Protesters plan to show new Health Secretary Alan Milburn how angry they are at proposed bed closures at community hospitals in Oxfordshire.

Mr Milburn has replaced Frank Dobson, who resigned to stand as Mayor of London, in this week's ministerial reshuffle by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The protest, led by town councillor Lesley Legge, is at the Government's delay in deciding whether community hospitals in Watlington and Burford, and beds at other hospitals are to close. On August 24, Oxfordshire Health Authority closed 24 of the 54 beds at Abingdon to save cash pending a decision. The whole town is being urged to join the protest on October 30, in Market Place, Abingdon, from 10am to 2pm.

Mrs Legge said Mr Milburn had no excuses to delay the decision further.

She said: "He needs to give people local care in the local community as his government says in its White Paper.

"Or he will carry on dithering and let Abingdon's future patients suffer through lack of available nursing care and longer waiting lists. "More and more people have approached me to protest against the whole unbearable situation. Abingdon people want to show they care."

Dr Evan Harris, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: "The Government wants to avoid responsibility by refusing to fund hospitals and waiting for hospitals to close by default.

"Mr Milburn is unlikely to make a decision either. Gimmicks are higher on the agenda than actual decision making. Who is at the helm is irrelevant."

Story date: Thursday 14 October

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