New Hospital for Moreton?
16/07/2005
MORETON-in-Marsh could be given a brand new hospital and health centre, as part of Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust's commitment to providing better services closer to patients' homes.
"We want to develop health care for the whole of the north Cotswolds, with our hospitals in Moreton and Bourton, our local GPs and other partners - such as social services - working together to provide a range of services for as many people as possible," said Richard James, chief executive of the PCT.
In order to be able to develop services at Moreton, one idea is to move services from the current hospital site, where there is restricted access, to a new, purpose built site, which would also allow us to bring together several key health services on one site.
This would mean more patients could be treated locally, in purpose-built premises with the latest equipment.
Moreton is currently served by a community hospital and two GP practices within the town. GPs at Stow and Camden surgeries regularly admit patients to Moreton Hospital. There is also an ambulance station based in the town.
However, the hospital is in need of refurbishment and modernisation, and Moreton's increasing population is outgrowing the facilities at the current GP practices.
The PCT has been working with local GPs to find the best way of making its aim of providing health care closer to patients' homes a reality. The proposed new hospital site would include two on-site GP practices and six units for staff accommodation.
"This is an exciting proposal," said Hywel Furn-Davies, speaking on behalf of the GPs practising in Moreton. "We feel that bringing both surgeries on to one site with the new hospital development will be good news for patients.
"We hope to see both Moreton and Moore Cottage (Bourton) Hospitals benefit and develop further. Bringing improved outpatient and inpatient services to the north Cotswolds, we want to see more services being provided locally, rather than patients having to travel to Cheltenham or Oxford."
The new hospital would accommodate patients in private rooms with en-suite facilities. This would provide enhanced infection control, greater comfort and more privacy for patients.
The plans also include building six new accommodation units for key workers - such as nursing staff - which would be a big step towards solving the north Cotswolds recruitment problems.
A bonus for patients visiting the GP practices is that there would be plenty of parking space available - which is an issue at the existing premises.
"We've found a site a mile away from the existing hospital and half a mile from the two GP practices that we may be able to purchase for the new hospital building," said Mr James.
"This site would be big enough to accommodate all our needs. We have wonderful nurses and support staff working at the current hospital, but the building is outdated and would be difficult to refurbish, as most of it is pre-fabricated material
"Our X-ray equipment is 30 years old, and patients who are admitted for care are treated in an old-fashioned ward setting. The new hospital would include modern X-ray facilities and would mean that more people each year could be treated locally. New patient accommodation would be in individual en-suite rooms."
The first step towards achieving the new hospital is to find out what people think about the idea. The PCT is today (15 July) talking to local councillors, patient representatives and health care staff, and is arranging a series of public meetings to discuss the plans.
The PCT has also approached Gloucestershire Ambulance Trust with the idea of re-locating the ambulance station at Moreton to the new site, if the scheme goes ahead.
Anyone interested in finding out more, or registering an interest to be involved in the planning, can visit the PCT website at www.cotsvalepct.org.uk, or contact Jo Wynn on 01285 884694, email joanna.wynn@glos.nhs.uk.
