CAMPAIGNERS have branded the redevelopment of a community hospital in Shipston a “fiasco” due to the loss of inpatient beds.
The new state-of-the-art building opened its doors on Monday (June 2) after a significant investment which has seen the former Ellen Badger Hospital replaced by a multi-purpose, £4.5million health facility and well-being hub.
Inpatient beds have been transferred elsewhere in the county.
Alasdair Elliott, chairman of the Beds for Badger campaign group, said: “We now have a large, new building, but not a hospital.”
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) has described the development as an “exciting investment” for the local community, supporting people out of an acute hospital setting “which we know improves outcomes”.
Fundraisers donated £635,000 towards the new hospital, which the trust used to buy adjacent land for the redevelopment.
The fundraisers said when they made their donation, it was on the understanding it would include inpatient beds.
SWFT has previously said the donation was not conditional of inpatient beds being provided.
Hundreds of campaigners, including GP and broadcaster Dr Sarah Jarvis, have been protesting about the lack of beds at the new hospital.
A four thousand-strong petition was presented to Parliament earlier this year demanding the return of inpatient beds to the Ellen Badger.
It was delivered by Stratford MP Manuela Perteghella who said Shipston had had its health services “stripped to the bone”.
Mr Elliott added: “The vast majority of the residents of Shipston and the surrounding rural community are furious the new building has the barefaced cheek to have the words Ellen Badger Hospital prominently displayed.
“We can only assume that the signage was ordered some years ago when we were promised a brand new hospital to replace the existing one.
“We now have a fiasco which has been eight years in the making.”
A public consultation, launched by the Coventry and Warwickshire ICB, provided residents with the chance to influence the future of 35 community rehabilitation beds in south Warwickshire.
Two options were considered. A three-site distribution plan, with beds shared between Ellen Badger Hospital, Leamington Hospital, and Stratford Hospital. This would bring up to 12 inpatient beds back to Ellen Badger Hospital. Or the centralisation of all 35 beds at Leamington and Stratford hospitals, leaving Ellen Badger without any inpatient facilities.
The second option was selected.
