Wantage Community Hospital update

We’re working closely with local people in Wantage and Grove to shape future services at Wantage Community Hospital. Below you will find the latest updates on what’s happening.

Image related to Wantage Community Hospital update

Local voices shaping the plan

A joint report by the NHS and Wantage Town Council Health Committee was developed with input from local people. It was presented to Oxfordshire’s Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Based on this engagement, we are planning to refurbish the hospital’s ground floor, subject to securing Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding from Vale of White Horse District Council.

Community meetings and updates

We held an open public meeting on Thursday 11 July 2024 at The Beacon, Wantage. At this event, we shared:

  • Designs for the proposed refurbishment
  • An update on the types of services that could be delivered from the ground floor

Another public meeting was held on Thursday 27 February 2025 at Wantage Silver Band Hall. The slides used at both of these meetings can be found below:

Since then, we’ve been working closely with Wantage Town Council Health Committee and other partners to:

  • Finalise refurbishment plans
  • Confirm the services that will operate from the newly improved space

Vale of White Horse District Council approves funding bid

The Vale of White Horse District Council has approved a bid for £950,000 of funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy, which it manages. You can read the full news story online. We’re now working with the chosen contractor to agree the timeline for works starting on refurbishing the hospital’s ground floor.

Please note: The maternity service on the top floor is not affected by these changes.

Services

Services already provided on the ground floor

Since November 2021, the following pilot outpatient services have been introduced and will continue:

  • Ophthalmology, including intravitreal (eye) injections
  • Audiology and Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)
  • Mental health services, including:
    • Adult mental health
    • Oxfordshire Talking Therapies (psychological therapies)
    • Neuro-developmental support
  • Learning disabilities support
  • Diabetes screening
  • Health visiting clinics, including group sessions
  • GP clinics
  • Musculoskeletal (MSK)/physiotherapy services, expanded by Connect Health
  • Ultrasound clinics, provided by Cora Health (known as Health Share previously)

These are in addition to existing services, which will also continue:

  • Podiatry
  • Adult and children’s speech and language therapy
  • Children’s integrated therapy services
  • MSK/physiotherapy
  • School nursing team (now based at the nearby health centre, forming part of the 0–19 Healthy Child and Young Person’s Service)
Additional services being considered

We are working currently with local healthcare providers to explore sustainable new services for the refurbished ground floor. These providers include:

  • Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Principle Medical Ltd
  • Connect Health
  • Cora Health (which used to be called Health Share)

Our planning continues to be shaped by:

  • Continued feedback gained from our public engagement work, including on-going conversations with local community groups to understand how services should be configured and accessed

Project timetable

Here are the next key milestones:

  • Autumn 2024 – Submit the CIL funding application
  • Winter 2024 – Public engagement on final design and service plans
  • Spring/Summer 2025 – Approve final designs and costs, and begin contractor tender process
  • Summer 2025 – Appoint contractors and submit final CIL application (approval announced on 8 September 2025)
  • Autumn 2025 – Begin phased refurbishment work – timings to be confirmed
  • Spring 2026 – Refurbishment and service configuration project completed

Published: 16 July 2024