The Trust and the CCG will keep the unit open but with a new community outreach service.
A specialist neuro-rehabilitation unit at Mansfield Community Hospital will stay open following feedback from local people.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals (SFH) and the Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have confirmed that the inpatient service for patients at the Chatsworth Unit based at Mansfield Community Hospital will remain at the site.
In August the SFH said it was considering stopping the “unsustainable” service and closing the hospital’s 16-bed Chatsworth ward. According to papers released at the time, the service was running at a loss of £326,136 a year.
However, following consultation from the public, both the Trust and the CCG will keep the unit open but with a new community outreach service that will “enable some patients to receive rehabilitation and care at home”.
A joint statement from CCG and the Trust said: “Following feedback from local people, staff, patients and carers, the commissioners have made the decision to keep an inpatient service for neuro-rehabilitation patients at the Chatsworth Unit based at Mansfield Community Hospital. We would like to thank all those who have taken the time to share their views.
“In addition we will be designing a new community outreach service that will enable some patients to receive rehabilitation and care at home or local community settings.
“These additional services in the community will mean that, where appropriate and safe, patients will have the ability to receive high quality neuro-rehabilitation services in their own home.
“We are pleased that this proposal for an integrated hospital and community service has received general support from staff and the Health Scrutiny Committee.
“The CCG and the Trust will continue to work proactively with patients and staff at the Chatsworth Unit to design this new service, ensuring we provide effective neuro-rehabilitation for people at the right time in the right place.
“A business case for this new service will be developed over the coming weeks with the new arrangements expected to be in place in the near future. A public engagement session will take place in April.”
The We Are All Chatsworth group, who campaigned for the unit to stay open said the news was a “victory”.
Jon Dale, the Unite Nottinghamshire health Service branch secretary said: “This is a fantastic victory for all those who came to meetings, marched and signed petitions supporting Chatsworth Ward.
“It shows that when we fight back, we can defeat cuts and the threat of privatisation. Our fight will continue to stop these threats throughout Nottinghamshire and this victory will inspire others to fight back to save our NHS.”
Article originally appeared on Nottingham Post
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