We would like to provide reassurance following speculation on the future of the Hospital, but also highlight our commitment to meeting the needs of local people and providing the healthcare that people need day to day close to home.
There is currently a trial associated with some Cirencester Hospital services and you can read more about the temporary changes here.
Our tests of change include trialling a new frailty complex care unit at Cirencester Hospital, which has been developed to directly meet the needs of the local population. We have reorganised beds to retain one intermediate care ward of 28 beds, but then created the specialised 15-bed unit to provide rehabilitative care to patients with a higher complexity of physical and mental health needs when compared to our previous inpatient model.
The effectiveness of this new configuration, and the improvements we hope to achieve in terms of ensuring that people experience the most appropriate and high-quality care, alongside the best possible chance of returning home more quickly, will be fully evaluated.
The second change is the temporary pausing of planned day case surgery at the hospital’s community theatre, which is leased by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Surgical activity previously carried out at Cirencester is temporarily taking place elsewhere in the county. This is part of a ‘test of change’ to look at the impact of concentrating specific surgical procedures at sites to see if this improves efficiency and waiting times, reduces cancellations for patients countywide, provides a better service for our patients and makes better use of our resources.
It is important to note that community theatres in Gloucestershire are used by patients from across the county – not just those living near a particular site. For many one-off surgical procedures, people choose to travel within the county to access specialist services and for specific procedures.
We would like to make it clear that no permanent plans have been made, or decisions made, about individual services, facilities or specific sites over the long term. This is about testing out new service models and ways of working.
After the trials, we will review how well the changes have worked. This will include looking at data, patient outcomes, staff and public feedback. We will share the evaluation findings and will also use this to guide our next steps, including further engagement with staff, patients and community partners, as necessary.
Meanwhile, all other existing services at Cirencester, including the Minor Injury and Illness Unit, inpatient services, outpatient services such as therapy and podiatry, and the work of the community teams continue as normal.
There are no plans to close Cirencester Hospital and it’s important to stress that we see it as a hugely important asset for the future of local healthcare. Our vision is for a thriving hospital to serve local communities.
We are committed to continuing to invest in the development of the hospital and local services in the Cotswolds and fully support the drive to develop neighbourhood health services and centres, in particular making sure that the care and services that people might need often are provided locally, including modern GP facilities.
We look forward to working with the local community to tackle health inequalities and deliver joined-up care and services close to home where possible.
Statement from: NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB), Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
