Helston Community Hospital is "a long way off" any threat of permanent bed closures, despite no medical cover currently in place for three months from now.

It is after Helston Medical Centre, which currently provides GP cover for 12 of the hospital's 24 beds, gave three months notice, saying it will be too much for its staff to continue with at its current capacity.

Notice had already been given almost three months ago on the other 12 beds managed by Mullion Health Centre, whose cover is about to end in the next few weeks, which has resulted in four of the hospital's beds now being temporarily closed to ensure patient safety.

However, the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the hospital, told the Packet on Monday it was "pretty hopeful" a long-term solution would be found and it was already in talks with a couple of GPs. An alternative model, whereby a GP would be based full-time in the hospital, rather than the cover being outsourced to local GP practices, was also being considered.

A trust spokesperson said: "This is very much a short term measure and we're hoping in the next three months, or sooner, to get the situation resolved. It will be service exactly as normal."

When asked what the long-term future would be if no alternative could be found during the three-month notice period, she added: "We're a long way off that."

The trust had already put out a statement at the end of last week, saying that the eight beds soon to be without cover from Mullion would be covered by other doctors from the trust, including its own director of primary care Dr Tamsyn Anderson, while alternative arrangements were put in place.

The temporary reduction of four beds would be phased in over the following ten days, as patients became ready for discharge.

Cornwall Foundation Trust said in the statement: "Owing to pressures on primary care the GPs providing the medical cover to Helston Community Hospital have regrettably given three months’ notice.

"Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to providing safe and resilient medical cover to the hospital and recruitment is underway."

Helston Medical Centre practice manager Alison Butterill said the surgery wanted to make it clear that it was not its beds that were the four being closed.

In a statement on Helston Medical Centre's website, senior partner Dr John Garman, said the practice had initially been approached about taking on all 24 beds at the hospital, after Mullion gave notice on its 12. However, following discussions between partners and staff it was decided that, given current capacity at the practice, they could not provide cover for the additional beds and would give notice on the 12 the practice already covered.

Mr Garman said: "The demand on GPs’ time and resource at Helston Community Hospital has changed considerably over the last five to ten years with the changing patient profiles. These days the vast majority are not patients registered with our GP practice and some are actually still quite sick and in need of more specialist medical care.

"GPs and staff at the Medical Centre have been committed to Helston Community Hospital ever since it opened, and this is not a decision that we have taken lightly. In fact, it was with very heavy hearts that we informed staff at the hospital of the decision we have made and the reasons for doing so."

He said the surgery had discussed with the partnership "at length, on many occasions" the increasing workload in care and at the community hospital, as well as its existing General Medical Services contract.

"Our capacity to provide the excellent care that we always strive for at the community hospital has become increasingly limited in both time and workforce provision. This move will enable us to focus on further improving our core services and patient care within general practice at both Helston Medical Centre and the Porthleven Surgery.

"We firmly believe that our decision, together with that of the other provider of GP cover ,will enable the trust to take a holistic and more sustainable approach regarding how patients are cared for at Helston Community Hospital in the future. We are convinced that this hospital will continue to have a very important role within the community," added Mr Garman, before going on to confirm the surgery would continue to cover its 12 beds during the three months' notice period.