Business Case Backing for Gloucester City Community Hospital

02/11/2007

Board members have given their backing to an exciting business case which could see the future development of a Community Hospital in Gloucester City.

Under the proposals, Holly House in Gloucester would be developed to provide a range of community health services for adults, creating a bridge between hospital and home for local people.

Services could include:

• Care for older people recovering from an acute (serious) illness e.g. pneumonia
• Rehabilitation care for patients recovering from an operation who are not ready to return home e.g. hip replacement
• Palliative and terminal care (care for people reaching the end of their lives)
• Care for patients with an acquired brain injury or other long term neurological condition requiring specialist rehabilitation
• ‘Step down’ care for older people with mental health needs, who no longer need specialist inpatient care.

Chief Executive of Gloucestershire PCT, Jan Stubbings said:

“It is very important that hospitals like Gloucestershire Royal continue to provide highly specialist services and care for people in the county who need it and this will not change. However, we have got an opportunity to develop something very exciting in Gloucester City which would provide a range of high quality care services in the right kind of community setting.”

Gloucester City GP, Dr Helen Miller said:

“This project has real potential to prevent inappropriate admissions to District General Hospitals like Gloucestershire Royal and at the same time promote independence and well-being for local people.”

“Providing services in the right environment is so important for people’s rehabilitation and treatment and these proposals have the potential to create a facility that offers medical and nursing care in a therapeutic setting.”

To support joined up working, GPs, District Nurses and other health and social care workers would be actively involved in the patient’s admission, care plan and transfer home.

Research carried out by the PCT shows that last year around 900 patients admitted to a District General Hospital (e.g. Gloucestershire Royal Hospital) could have been directly admitted to a community facility.

Over 200 patients who were admitted to Hospital due to Stroke and fracture of the neck of femur (thigh bone) could have benefited from early transfer to a community facility.

The PCT will now explore options for capital funding of the proposed 25 bed community hospital. The Trust is confident that the revenue costs (running costs) will be met within its existing budget.

Jan Stubbings added:

“We would like to stress that this project is at early business case stage and is the result of initial discussions with local health professionals. We are committed to exploring its potential further and we would want to ensure that the local community and NHS and Social Care staff are fully involved and have a real say in the development of services at the site.”

“We believe that a development of this kind would offer exciting opportunities for NHS staff in Gloucestershire to use their professional expertise within a first class community facility.”

Further Information

If the proposals go ahead, the facility could be available in 16-18 months time, when specialist inpatient mental health services for older people move to Charlton Lane in Cheltenham.