A DECISION to permanently close beds at two hospitals, along with two care homes, has been made this afternoon.

Health chiefs spent more than an hour and a half discussing the proposals, which were labelled an “extremely difficult decision”.

The virtual meeting, which was attended by East Lothian councillors Shamin Akhtar, George McGuire, Lyn Jardine and Carol McFarlane, was striving to address financial issues facing East Lothian’s Integration Joint Board (IJB), which is responsible for planning services for health and social care in the county.

Members of the IJB, with the exception of Mrs McFarlane, backed the recommendations in the report.

READ MORE: Concerns over proposals for Edington Hospital and Belhaven Hospital

The move means that the nine in-patient beds associated with the Edington Hospital in North Berwick will be permanently closed.

Similarly, the in-patient beds currently accommodated in ward six at the East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington will also be closed on a permanent basis.

The Edington site will continue to offer community health services.

A decision was also taken to close the town’s The Abbey care home on a permanent basis due to the building’s infrastructure being unable to fully meet current and future care and safety standards.

Finally, Belhaven Hospital’s care home and in-patient beds are to close on a permanent basis due to the associated risk of fire hazards, security and lone working.

As part of the proposal, the community health services operating from the site will be relocated.