The closure of two hospital wards was discussed at a public meeting held yesterday evening.

People were invited to Holywell Community Centre to hear more about Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust’s plans to save £2.8m by closing two wards St Albans City Hospital, leading to the loss of 39 community beds.

Under the current plans, the Sopwell and Langton rehabilitation wards - which provide 24-hour nursing services at the hospital - will shut, but ten extra beds will be created in Langley House in St Albans Road, Watford.

The trust said its decision was informed by the fact that only 30 per cent of patients at the hospital come from the St Albans area, with the majority living in Watford or Hemel Hempstead.

Working with West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, the community trust plans to launch a “discharge to access” scheme, which will provide support for up to 50 people in their own homes after they have left hospital.

The cuts come after the community trust, which operates adult and children’s community services at Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead hospitals, signed a new contract with the Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group.

Community trust chief executive David Law said: “We have a responsibility to explain to local people what is happening and why.

“I and my colleagues will also seek to reassure residents that the action we are taking will help us to manage more people back to their own homes on a timely basis, and to use our remaining community beds effectively for those who need them.”