Local people’s views were at the heart of a joint report between the NHS and the Wantage Town Council Health Committee that was discussed by Oxfordshire’s Joint Health and Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Following this period of working closely with the community, we are planning to refurbish the ground floor of the community hospital, subject to a successful application for community investment levy (CIL) funding from Vale of White Horse District Council.
The plan is to submit an application after an open public meeting that was held at The Beacon in Wantage on Thursday, 11 July, which was when the proposed refurbishment design and an update on the types of services that could operate from the ground floor space of the hospital was shared with local people. The slides used on the night are now available online.
Subject to the CIL funding being approved, we are planning on the work starting later in the year, with new services coming online from 2025.
The current maternity unit service on the top floor is not affected by these changes.
Services
Services provided on the ground floor already
Since November 2021, the following outpatient services have been piloted and will continue to be provided going forward:
- Ophthalmology, including intravitreal (eye) injections
- Audiology and Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)
- Mental health services – adult mental health, Oxfordshire Talking Therapies (psychological therapies) and neuro-developmental
- Learning disabilities
- Diabetes screening
- Health visiting clinics, including group sessions
- GP clinics
- Expansion of musculoskeletal (MSK)/physiotherapy services by Connect Health
- Health Share providing ultrasound clinics
These piloted services are in addition to those provided at the hospital already, which will also continue:
- Podiatry
- Adult and children’s speech and language therapy
- Children’s integrated therapy services
- MSK/physiotherapy
- School nursing team (now moved to the nearby health centre to form part of the new 0-19 healthy child and young person’s service with health visitors and other practitioners.
Additional services being considered for the refurbished ground floors, once ready
We are currently liaising with local healthcare providers including Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Principle Medical Ltd, Connect Health and Health Share to identify a range of sustainable services that could be offered from the ground floor to best meet the needs of the local population.
Following the period of public engagement that took place during Autumn 2023 that helped inform the future of Wantage Community Hospital, we continue to engage with local community groups to understand their views on how best to configure services and access to them on the ground floor of the hospital.
Project timetable
These are our next key milestones:
- Summer 2024 – submit CIL funding application
- Autumn 2024 – public engagement on the final design and service configuration plans
- Autumn/Winter -2024 – refurbishment works take place (subject to successful CIL funding award)
- Spring 2025 – service transitions take place
- Summer 2025 – ground floor refurbishment and service configuration project concludes
