Have your say on the future of services at Wantage Community Hospital

Background

Wantage Community Hospital is home to a range of community-based services. It is run by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

It currently provides outpatient services for the local community such as tests, treatment and therapy. Some of these services have been running for a long period of time, while others have been piloted for the past 18 months after an old inpatient ward was re-opened for this purpose. Inpatient beds at the community hospital have been temporarily closed for over 7 years.

Oxford Health has been considering the best possible future use of Wantage Community Hospital with its partners and key local stakeholders and now needs local peoples' views on what type of services should be provided at the site.

What are we planning?

The local NHS Trust and its partners are committed to keeping Wantage Community Hospital open. Its objective is to provide sustainable, longer-term, hospital-like services from the site, that maximises space and meets immediate and future needs of the local population.

There will be no changes to maternity services. Support remains for their continuation on the first floor of the hospital.

We have focused on three key service areas when deciding what type of care might be delivered at Wantage Community Hospital. The areas are:

1. Clinic-based services for planned care appointments. For example, outpatient appointments, tests, treatment and therapy.
2. Community inpatient beds and alternatives when care in your own home isn’t appropriate.
3. Urgent care access needs on the same day. For minor injury, illness or mental health issues.

From these three service areas, the Trust - in discussion with its stakeholders and partners - have created three scenarios for the future of the hospital. We are now inviting the public to have their say on these scenarios so that we can ensure that local health and care services best meet the needs of those living in Wantage and Grove.

You can share your thoughts on the scenarios by taking our survey below before Monday 6 November.