Campaigners fighting the closure of a much-loved community hospital have been dealt a fresh blow after the NHS chose to shut it down.
The board of NHS Hampshire will withdraw Odiham Cottage Hospital’s nursing contract from July 31.
The Buryfields hospital was told in November last year that nursing provider Hampshire Community Health Care would not renew the centre’s nursing contract.
Hospital owners, Odiham Cottage Hospital Charitable Trust embarked on a passionate campaign to keep it going.
A statement issued by NHS Hampshire cited risks to patient safety and difficulties in staffing the hospital, as the main drivers of the decision.
It read: “NHS Hampshire Board heard on May 26 that the current provider of nursing services at Odiham Cottage Hospital was withdrawing the service from July 31. This is due to ongoing difficulties staffing the unit, which have resulted in risks to patient safety.
“The board considered a request from the Hampshire County Council’s health overview and scrutiny committee and Hart District Council to extend the current contract for nursing care, but felt that this would result in continued risks to patient safety.”
The 108-year-old hospital houses 12 beds and is employs 25 part-time nurses. It provides round-the-clock nursing and GP support for patients from Odiham, Old Basing, Hartley Wintney and Hook. Patients will now be sent to Fleet and Alton.
Ginny East, secretary of Odiham Cottage Hospital Charitable Trust, said: “There is one remaining glimmer of hope and that lies with the newly-formed local GP commissioning consortium Calleva.
“They are currently reviewing the need for local beds and that work may provide a role for our hospital in the future. We are hoping that it will be only a temporary closure. We will mothball the hospital until the review. Then we can ask some big questions and get some big answers.
“Whatever the outcome, we will, of course, continue to work to seek a solution whereby the hospital and the charity can support the needs of our community.”
The outcome of the review is expected this autumn.
