Join the debate on Fairford Hospital

12/09/05

This week sees the launch of a three-month public consultation on the future of Fairford Hospital. The consultation will run until 14 December.

The consultation is part of a wide-ranging discussion on the future shape of local healthcare. Among the challenges to be debated are:

. how to provide routine healthcare as close to home as possible and reduce the distance patients need to travel.

. how to develop a new and greater role for the Trust's community hospitals, so that patients can go to their local hospital for routine outpatient
appointments, diagnostic tests and day case treatments.

. how to help people recover from hospital treatment, get home and resume independent living more quickly.

Fairford is one of six community hospitals managed by Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust (PCT). Since February this year, the PCT has been talking to patients at Fairford and local people about the local health services that are important to them.

It has now produced three principal options for the hospital's future. They are to provide:

. outpatient services only at Fairford Hospital with inpatient beds at Cirencester Hospital.

. outpatient services with some local inpatient beds at Fairford Hospital.

. outpatient services at Fairford Hospital with some local inpatient beds elsewhere locally.

A fourth possible option is to look at re-locating Fairford Hospital to a site that can be developed to meet more patients' needs.

"We have been listening to what people want from their local hospital, and most would prefer to have less distance to travel for routine outpatient appointments, many of which could be provided at Fairford," said PCT chief executive, Richard James.

"We are committed to ensuring better healthcare closer to home and to developing a new and greater role for our community hospitals. Fairford Hospital is highly valued by both the PCT and the local community. But last year it admitted just 164 patients out of a population of over 10,000.

"Health needs are changing and, if we're to ensure a vibrant future for the hospital, we need to make sure that its services benefit a wider section of the community, and offer value for money. A new role for Fairford Hospital will be better for patients and enable us to live within our means."

New outpatient services that could benefit up to 2,000 patients a year include clinics, X-ray services, blood testing, pathology tests, day care and therapy. But the PCT also needs to make some tough decisions about how to care for the older people who need to be admitted for longer hospital stays.

Why inpatient services need to change

. The PCT is developing new, specialist, rehabilitation services at Cirencester and Stroud Hospitals, and improved community rehabilitation services.

. Local GPs no longer offer out of hours care on a rota basis. Out of hours services are now managed county-wide by the Gloucestershire PCTs. This means that Fairford Hospital patients only receive local GP care during 'office hours'.

. The old-style ward accommodation at Fairford Hospital does not meet national standards of privacy and dignity for inpatients, and there is no capacity to develop new en-suite private rooms in the existing hospital building.

. The PCT is currently overspending by around £5 million per year. Treating inpatients at Cirencester Hospital, or in a local nursing home, would provide the quality inpatient care in a less costly way.

The PCT has arranged a series of public meetings in Fairford and Lechlade for people to have their say. The first of these will take place at The Farmor's School in Fairford on Saturday 1 October, 11am. All are welcome.

Anyone interested in finding out more, or to request a copy of the consultation document, can contact Joanna Wynn on 01285 884694, or visit www.cotsvalepct.org.uk