This was supported and scrutinised by the Oxfordshire County Council Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee. (JHOSC) The current mix of clinical services provided through the hospital’s ground floor are a mix of existing and ones that have been piloted since November 2021.  The maternity unit on the hospital’s first floor, which is run by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), is not affected by this project where there is already a commitment for it to stay.

On the basis of this work, a co-produced report identifying recommendations for next steps has been completed, that proposes developments that will maximise hospital clinic-based services at the hospital and the permanent closure of the inpatient beds. The report, together with OUH and the Oxfordshire County Council, was considered by the JHOSC on 16 January 2024, when support was expressed for the locally co-produced plan for health and care partners to work with Wantage Town Council Health Committee and stakeholders to progress the next stage of work to deliver the recommendations in the report.

Under the plan there will be a major refurbishment of Wantage Community Hospital and new hospital clinics with a mix of sustainable hospital clinics based at the hospital which will save local residents thousands of journeys every year to the John Radcliffe and other hospitals. Other recommendations include improvements for residents being discharged from hospital and palliative care.

Building on the support from JHOSC and subsequent decisions by the ICB and Oxford Health that support the recommendations of the co-produced report, Oxford Health has indicated formally to Vale of White Horse District Council of the intention to apply for Community infrastructure levy (CIL) funding of circa £600,000 in Summer 2024 for the redevelopment of the ground floor of the hospital, which will involve:

1. Investing in existing clinical spaces to provide staff and patients with modern fit for purpose spaces and better access and improved experience
2. Create additional clinical space on the ground floor to enable services to be expanded.

Work is now underway on developing the necessary detailed plans for the hospital’s refurbishment being shared with local residents in May 2024.