A PENSIONER who says his life was saved at a care home has attacked plans to cut beds.

Oxfordshire joint health overview and scrutiny committee has launched a full consultation into whether it should stop funding 13 intermediate care beds at Watlington Care Home.

George Cannon, whose wife suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and lives at the care home, said the “vital” service must be saved.

The 89-year-old was admitted to the home in June to recuperate after he injured his pelvis in a fall.

Mr Cannon said: “I was in a very bad way and I have no doubt the care home helped save my life.

“They looked after me so well and made sure I continued to recover after my initial treatment.

“I cannot emphasise enough how important the care home is for the community.”

Last month, Oxfordshire County Council announced that it would stop paying for the beds but launched a consultation after protests from the Watlington Charitable Trust, which owns the site.

The scrutiny committee is made up of county councillors, district councillors and a number of co-opted members with expert knowledge.

The home was a hospital from 1873 until it was closed by Oxfordshire Health Authority in 2000.

The building remained vacant until local people raised £2m to buy it before it was rebuilt and opened by Sanctuary Care in 2004 as a 60-bed long-stay facility.

Mr Cannon retired as headmaster of Ewelme Primary School in 1986 and still lives in the village.

His wife Joan, 90, moved into the dementia beds – which are not currently under threat – about four months ago.

Mr Cannon said: “It would be so difficult for me to visit Joan if she was in Oxford, so I know how people must feel.

“The nurses and staff are wonderful and interact so closely with everyone in there. Joan used to work at the old hospital as an auxiliary nurse. We both know first hand just what an important job it does.”

A 13-week consultation will now be carried out and the results will be evaluated at a committee meeting early next year.

The council has funded the intermediate care beds for people in-between leaving hospital and returning home for the last six years.

Each bed costs the authority £700 per week.

County council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “The decision to move funding from short stay intermediate care beds at Watlington Care Home towards domiciliary care was put on hold and is now subject to a public consultation.

“A rolling contract has been in operation at this care home since March to provide a service whilst a strategy is being devised for a way forward. A competitive tender process may be conducted once that strategy is finalised.”

l A fundraising fair for the Watlington Hospital Fund-raising Committee, held at Benson Parish Hall on Tuesday, raised £8,500.