Rising costs see plans for Shipston's new medical centre scrapped
SHIPSTON will not be getting a new medical centre any time soon after the project was hit by spiralling costs.
Shipston Medical Centre formed a central part of proposals to redevelop part of the Ellen Badger Hospital site, on Stratford Road, into a healthcare hub. The plans, approved in March of this year, would have seen GP services in one part of the building and outpatient services, treatment rooms for physiotherapy, specialist nurses and other health professionals, including mental health clinicians and Shipston Home Nursing, in another section.
The project, a partnership between Shipston Medical Centre and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, allowed for the demolition of the old hospital and a house, and for the building of a new medical and wellbeing centre containing about 100 rooms.
At the time Dr Paul Daniel, GP at Shipston Medical Centre, told the Herald: “This proposal will enable us to offer updated facilities and additional clinic space so we’re really happy to hear that planning permission has been granted. The ability to work more closely with community teams and the voluntary sector is an opportunity to enhance our primary care services and offer more holistic, quality patient care.”
While that commitment to work closely still exists, the medical centre’s move is off for now.
A statement from Shipston Medical Centre said: “The development of a new medical centre was identified as part of the wider development of an integrated care facility at Ellen Badger Hospital in 2018.
“The new medical centre cost was originally estimated at £4.5m. A steep increase in the cost of construction, materials and associated expenses of the build, caused by factors outside of the control of the practice, has resulted in these costs increasing by almost 50 per cent, and they are continuing to rise.
“This increase in costs means that the project is no longer financially viable in its current design.
“This is extremely disappointing to the partners of the practice who have invested significant amounts of money in the pre-building stage.
“Our priority remains ensuring the patients of the practice and the people of Shipston and the surrounding areas have access to high quality primary care services and we are working with the Integrated Care Board and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust to review all available options.”
While SWFT has appointed contractor Speller Metcalfe to start ‘enabling activities’ at the site, no building work has started.
SWFT, however, said it is still committed with its part of the project and has a budget of £8.8m, although with inflation putting up costs some of the previous project proposals may now be out of reach.
The trust said funding for both elements of the site were being sourced separately.
It added: “While funding was originally in place for both elements, the increasing costs in the construction market because of a range of external factors have resulted in substantial further funding now being needed to complete the medical centre build.”
SWFT said it made a decision just over a week ago to move forward with its part of the project, while the practice reviews its options.
A spokesperson told the Herald: “It is disappointing that at this point both parties can’t move forward, however, by the trust proceeding in line with the original plans, the opportunity for the practice remains open.”
So, what health care facilities will Shipton be getting? Most of what was in the original plans:
- Space for mobile diagnostics
- A health and wellbeing centre with space for community use, therapy and activities
- Shared spaces for community nursing and health visiting teams and Shipston Home Nursing.
- Outpatients and treatment rooms for physiotherapy, and other health professionals including mental health clinicians
However, the offering has been described as no more than a hall.
Bryan Stoten, chair of the League of Friends of Shipston Hospitals, said: “The people of Shipston aren’t going to have a new medical centre or a hospital, so end of story.
“You are not going to get a hospital if you can’t get a new GP practice. What you might get is a meeting hall along the lines that they put into Stratford – somewhere the governors of SWFT could meet once a quarter, but I can’t see a sign of anything else.”
He added: “If they had started in 2018 – and it’s a 20-month project – by 2020 we would have an inpatient hospital, a nice shiny GP surgery and patients would be going in. Instead, two years on from that not a brick has been laid – nothing has been done.”
Asked if Shipston would get a new hospital – which was referred to as phase two of the Ellen Badge redevelopment – a SWFT spokesperson told the Herald: “There is a review of all south Warwickshire community inpatients facilities which includes beds at the Ellen Badger and the Nicol Unit at Stratford Hospital.
“Until the outcome of this review is decided we are unable to comment on the future of the inpatient facilities.”
