PCT committed to Fairford Health Services
24/05/2007
The Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, Jan Stubbings said today that she was committed to a ‘thriving outpatient and community care facility’ at Fairford Hospital and would continue to work with the League of Friends and other local partners to achieve it.
Speaking before the PCT Board meeting next week, she said that a proposal for future developments had to reflect the facilities and range of services provided across the South Cotswolds and the health needs of local people.
She said:
“We remain committed to working with the League of Friends, GPs, the County Council and other local partners to secure a viable and healthy future for health and social care services in Fairford.”
“We supported the development of a business case to look at proposed facilities and have examined the outcome very carefully.”
“We believe that the development of services would best be achieved by building on the hospital’s success as an outpatients centre for the area and working with the League of Friends and other local partners to develop further a range of community based services for local people both in local facilities and in patients’ own homes.”
“Clinicians have now had an opportunity to look at the needs of patients who may require local services in the future. It has become clear that the development of an intermediate care (rehabilitation) facility and beds at Fairford would be reliant on Cirencester residents being transferred there as the number of Fairford and Lechlade residents who require this service at any one time is very small.”
“If fewer beds were provided at Cirencester Hospital then this could be detrimental to the hospital’s future.”
“Cirencester Hospital continues to provide highly effective intermediate care services and beds for patients from across the South Cotswolds and this must be considered.”
“We are also keen to look at the potential for developing the Intermediate Care Team for the South Cotswolds which involves a variety of professionals, such as therapists, nurses and social care workers, providing care in people’s own homes.”
“Fairford Hospital has become an important centre for outpatient services reducing the need for patients to have to travel further a field for their care and treatment. We would like to see this develop for the benefit of local patients.”
“In terms of the proposal for additional nursing care beds in a new facility, we do not believe that there is a need for significant additional capacity.”
“For those with long term nursing needs in Fairford and surrounding areas, we are keen to investigate a more flexible approach to use of beds within existing local nursing homes so that we can meet the care needs of local patients close to home.”
“Gloucestershire’s successful bid for Partnerships for Older People funds will also mean that we will be increasingly working with Care Homes locally to increase the support available to older people. This includes providing training for rehabilitation and encouraging care homes to become a focus for care and outreach support in local communities.”
