HEALTH chiefs have revealed they are submitting a bid for £150,000 to carry out a feasibility study on options for the future of Evesham Community Hospital.
The Observer revealed earlier this month Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust were drawing up proposals which could see Evesham Community Hospital re-built or even moved to a new location in the town.
Health bosses recognise the current building is ‘not ideal’ and speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, the trust’s Chief Executive Sarah Dugan confirmed she would be seeking the sum from a national NHS cash pot.
If successful, the trust will be awarded the cash before Christmas which will then enable them to begin the 12 month study.
The study will look at a range of options, including how the current Waterside hospital could be refurbished or redeveloped. It will also look at what land is available in the town and if it is suitable for a new hospital to be built there.
One option being looked at could see the hospital share a new building with other public sector organisations.
Ms Dugan confirmed to the Observer the trust had already been working with council chiefs to see what land was available and hopes the results of the study would be available in late 2018 or early 2019.
“We’ve already done some initial work to look at the options for the hospital, but obviously there is still quite a lot of detail and work to be to support that. This will move us on to the next stage to look at the options.
“Clearly our primary conversations have been about retaining the hospital on this site, it’s just whether it is possible.
“What you would have to do is keep the hospital running whilst you build the new provision. “Therefore we are looking at this site and sites very close, but yes in Evesham.
“We have been committed for years to try and find an alternative because the hospital is very old and we want local provision.”
She spoke at a public meeting at Evesham Community Hospital where more than 100 residents quizzed health bosses on the future of services in the town and across Worcestershire.
As part of the cross-party meeting, chaired by the Labour Party’s Michael Worrall, residents discovered more about the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership.
The STP sets out a five-year vision for health services in the county, which includes changes to community hospital services such as those in Evesham.
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