New Community Hospital for the North Cotswolds

17/02/2010

NHS Gloucestershire today welcomed the unanimous decision of the Cotswold District Council Planning Committee to approve the planning application for a new community hospital in Moreton in Marsh, bringing improved facilities for local people one step closer.

The new community hospital will be based at Fosse Way (close to the Garden Centre) and will replace the existing Moreton District Hospital. There will also be replacement premises for the White House and Mann Cottage surgeries on site.

The new hospital will include inpatient services, diagnostic facilities such as x-ray, along with a Minor Injury Unit and outpatient services. It will also provide a base for staff working in the community.

NHS Gloucestershire is looking at ways of increasing the range of outpatient clinics, offering health and well-being support, new day care procedures and mobile services.

The choice of site follows a comprehensive assessment involving community and patient representatives. It looked at issues such as planning matters, the impact on the environment, access for patients, the impact on highways, flooding and financial issues and risks.

Now planning permission has been granted, NHS Gloucestershire will be seeking to appoint contractors for the construction of the new facility which is planned to open in 2012.

Chief Executive of NHS Gloucestershire, Jan Stubbings said:

“This is an exciting project which will provide care and treatment in the best possible environment for the patient and in the right way to meet their individual needs. The project will deliver modern health and social care premises for the North Cotswolds and means local people can continue to access key services such as outpatient clinics, community beds and support from health and social care teams near to where they live.”

“We recognise that our staff are our most important asset and it is important that patients continue to benefit from their skills, knowledge and professional expertise.

We will support staff currently working in the locality during this period of change.”

David Glaisyer, Chair of the League of Friends for Moreton District Hospital said:

“This is very good news for people in the North Cotswolds. This new hospital will provide improved facilities for both patients and clinicians that are not currently able to be provided at the existing facilities. I look forward to seeing the new hospital develop.”