A PUBLIC meeting to discuss the closure of 10 beds in Denbigh community hospital and how best to ensure health and social services work together, will be held this Thursday.

The meeting, which will be held at Eirianfa Centre, Denbigh at 7pm, will be addressed by Rhun ap Iorweth, Plaid Cymru’s Health spokesman in the Welsh Assembly.

The meeting will also look at the future of heath provision in Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen.

Llanrhaeadr community councillor Elfed Williams said: “Rhun ap Iorwerth is extremely knowledgeable and will bring some new ideas to the table regarding health provision in this area which is especially relevant following the developments at Denbigh hospital.

"More than a month ago local Plaid Cymru councillors met representatives of the health board and were promised a report on Denbigh Hospital.

“The delay in publishing that report into the future of Denbigh Hospital is causing concern for a large number of local people and staff. I now learn that there is a problem with asbestos on the site causing further delay, even though the board would have been aware of its presence in the building for some years.

“These delays are causing more uncertainty, which is damaging for staff morale and I am concerned that it might jeopardise their ability to maintain adequate services in the hospital.”

The public meeting will also look at how best to ensure local social services and the health services work together more effectively.

Cllr Rhys Thomas, who represents the Denbigh Lower ward on Denbighshire County Council said: "In my ward I have the Denbigh Infirmary and the Dolwen Care Home. Both places are highly respected and valued by the people of Denbigh and surrounds. Almost everyone I speak to has had family members who have used these local services.

“People want the care home to stay in local authority hands and to see the infirmary developed to meet the needs of the increasing population."

"Looking at things positively, we now have a chance to develop plans that ensure that our health and social services work seamlessly together in our community. This meeting is an opportunity to share some of these ideas so that we can take them to the health board and the council."

Earlier this year 10 beds were removed from a ward in Denbigh community hospital because of fire safety concerns in the wake of the Grenfell disaster.

A safety assessment had highlighted vulnerability in the wooden floor of a first floor ward partially sited above the hospital’s kitchen.