New Ellen Badger will be complete before its purpose is decided by SWFT and Integrated Care Board
QUESTIONS about the future of Shipston’s Ellen Badger Hospital still remain unanswered as frustration for campaigners mounts.
A chicken and egg situation has emerged, for while the new building is due for completion in June 2024, decisions on its purpose have yet to be ratified by governing bodies South Warwickshire Foundation Trust (SWFT) and the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Prior to the demolition of the old hospital and work starting on the new one, SWFT maintained that the findings of a south Warwickshire bed review meant that the new hospital would not have beds, instead favouring at-home care and other alternatives. However the ICB has refused to publish the bed review, despite a freedom of information request from district councillor David Passingham (Green, Shipston South).
He told the Herald: “I have appealed to the Information Commissioner against the decision of the ICB not to publish the bed review but have not had a reply after six weeks.”
In July the ICB announced a decision on beds at Shipston would be made in the next year following a pre-consultation process. This means a decision on what accommodation the hospital should have will come only after it is built, leading many campaigners to suspect that it is therefore a foregone conclusion.
Another thorny and largely unaddressed issue hangs over the question of what is happening to the £515,200 Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding allocated to the ICB to build a GP surgery at the site.
The plan for Shipston Medical Centre to move to the new site from its existing base was scuppered a year ago when the GP partners pulled out of the deal after being put off by the escalating costs of the building.
According to the district council, which oversees the allocation of CIL funds, the money remains in limbo. Cllr Passingham said that according to his sources the ICB still intended to claim the money to build a new surgery.
“The hold-up seems to be that the ICB has not been able to persuade the Shipston medical practice, for whatever reason, to move to a new building on the Ellen Badger site. In the meantime SWFT are building the first phase of what they call a hospital but it will not include beds,” said Cllr Passingham
The Herald asked Shipston Medical Centre this week if its decision to not go ahead still remains, but we have yet to receive a reply. However an ICB spokesperson said: “The ICB is supporting Shipston Medical Centre in dialogue with SWFT regarding a GP surgery presence at the site, utilising the CIL funding.”
Commenting further, Cllr Passingham said: “The £515,200 that was allocated by the district council a year ago for the benefit of the people of Shipston is not being used. The public consultation on the future of the second phase of building at Ellen Badger, the phase that includes beds, will take another year.
“This is all at a time when the people of Shipston and the surrounding area are in need of improved medical and hospital services. Millions of pounds are being spent on the health and wellbeing centre which is being built at the moment which will not adequately serve the health needs of the community.”
The Herald put a string of questions to the ICB, but it was reluctant to expand on its statement given in August.
The spokesperson said then: “The ICB will be undertaking a pre-consultation process to inform the ICB’s decisions on the provision of community beds in South Warwickshire within the next 12 months. The south Warwickshire Community Hospital Bed Review will be published as part of a pre-consultation business case.
“No decision will be made on the provision of community beds without the public being properly involved.”
