At a board meeting held in public at the Corn Hall, Cirencester, on Tuesday 10 January 2006, local representatives from Fairford and around 300 members of the public made known their strong support for the local retention of in-patient beds and for the development of a new integrated health and social care campus in the town.

Prior to the beginning of formal proceedings, the board invited representations from a local district councillor, a local GP, Chairman of the Fairford Hospital League of Friends, the Mayor of Fairford and the Mayor of Lechlade. Councillor Malcolm Berry then presented a 3,574 name petition to Elizabeth Law, Chair of Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust.

Board members carefully considered the formal report of the recent Fairford consultation exercise. In response to consultation feedback and the report’s proposal, the board committed to rapidly explore the possibility of developing a new health and social care campus in Fairford, “…including intermediate care beds, alongside an independent development” and to significantly enhance outpatient facilities at Fairford. The report said this particular option had won strong public support and the feeling of the meeting was clear that the opportunity should be pursued quickly and energetically.

The meeting praised the standard and quality of care provided at Fairford and agreed it was vital to provide levels of care which included 24 hour doctor cover, which was not a sustainable option at Fairford.

It was, therefore, decided that, in the short-term, inpatient facilities for Fairford residents should be provided, where appropriate, in other local community facilities and at Cirencester hospital where 24 hour medical cover and daily consultant support is on hand.

Cotswold & Vale PCT Chief Executive Richard James said: “The PCT sees our community hospitals at the heart of a new model of healthcare we are developing to deliver better healthcare closer to home. In this new model, collaborative working with partners in social services and development of community services means the community hospitals will provide a much wider range of healthcare services to a greater number of patients. This is better for patients, is what patients tell us they want and will help us live within our means.”