Campaigners fighting to save a community hospital are appealing for support to re-open it.
The group feel “let down” by a lack of action from Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group.
Originally the CCG’s Big Health and Care Consultation was due to run in autumn 2016, but the second phase covering community hospitals has still not taken place, leaving the future of Wantage’s health service in limbo.
Councillor Jenny Hannaby, chairman of the Wantage Hospitals League of Friends, said the people of Wantage, Grove and surrounding areas have “been let down” and that “it’s about time that CCG did something”.
She added: “It’s been well over a year since the hospital has been closed, and part two of the consultation that we were promised in October 2016 still hasn’t taken place.”
Oxfordshire Health NHS Foundation Trust closed the 12 beds at the hospital to in-patients in July 2016 after raised levels of legionella had been detected in the hot water system.
The physio unit has also since been closed at the site, leaving only the maternity service open.
Cllr Hannaby said: “We’re pleased that the maternity unit is still thriving, and the Wantage Hospitals League of Friends are still in touch with them and helping them, because we want to keep it open.
“But a few weeks ago I asked Oxfordshire Health NHS Foundation Trust if the Wantage Hospital could be opened again to help with their winter pressures of flu, but I have had no reply. It’s a 30-bed hospital and it’s sat there doing nothing.
“There are millions being spent on bed blocking, and it just seems a not a very well managed situation when you have a community hospital doing nothing.
“If they spent the money that they put aside on re-instating the hospital – which they say is about £350,000 – and put the beds back in, I’m sure there would have been a saving against what they’re having to spend out on bed blocking.”
She added: “We have re-asked on Facebook if people can write to MPs and the council and let them know how valued the hospital is.”
League members met in October last year to discuss the possibility of buying the hospital for around £1.2 million to keep the facility open.
Full closure of the service could lead to care being moved into local nursing home beds.
Article originally appeared on Oxfordshire Guardian
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