The inpatients from the 'old' hospital were moved on Saturday 26 February to the Intermediate Care Unit. The Intermediate Care Unit will continue to provide the short stay inpatient services of the old community hospital using the existing NHS staff but managed through The Orders of St John Care Trust. The unit has 14 single en-suite bedrooms offering privacy and comfort and will be working closely with the rehabilitation therapy services based in the outpatient unit.
The new Chipping Norton War Memorial Community Hospital will provide an Outpatient Unit that includes physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, podiatry, X-ray services, consultant clinics and the Cotswold Maternity Unit|. Other services such as district nursing and community services for occupational therapy and physiotherapy will also have their offices based in the new building. Outpatient services will start on Monday 7 March.
Alan Webb, Director of Service Re-design of NHS Oxfordshire said, "This is an exciting time for local patients, residents and NHS staff because a brand new, modern health facility will be open for business. This has been a complex project which started eight years ago and has involved us working together across different organisations to finally see the new facilities open. The buildings and gardens are beautiful and have been designed to support modern healthcare for the future. We hope all those who use these services will enjoy the environment and come to love this facility as they did the old hospital."
Sandra Allen, Unit Manager, Community Health Oxfordshire said, "Chipping Norton Hospital building has been a well loved facility and is part of the history of town. Whilst moving marks the end of an era, the new hospital building is modern and fresh and offers excellent facilities for local patients and staff. We are all really pleased with how the move took place, the patients were all transferred by midday and enjoyed lunch as their first meal in the dining room at the new building."
Dan Hayes, County Director for The Orders of St John Care Trust said, "This project has been a very long one, with the three partner organisations all having to work hard to ensure that there would be a viable facility for Chipping Norton in the long term. We are delighted that the environment in which our residents and patients will live and be cared for is of the highest standard. This will contribute a great deal to the well being of all who use services at the Henry Cornish Care Centre.
"The staff are getting on with the job in hand, and as ever I am tremendously grateful for their effort and application in the last few weeks.
"The hard work now begins in order to ensure that the new site becomes as important and well respected as the care home and hospital it replaces."
The community midwifery unit, which is part of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals' maternity services, also moved across to the new hospital. The new facilities will be called the Cotswold Maternity Unit|. There will now be two birthing pools, both with en-suite facilities, a larger and improved waiting area and greatly improved space for antenatal and postnatal drop-in and breastfeeding support.
Community Midwife Cheryl Keeble, Team Leader at the Cotswold Maternity Unit said: "The existing unit has served the population of Chipping Norton and the surrounding areas well for a number of years. We will all take fond memories of it with us. However, we are looking forward to using our new purpose-built facilities which are really lovely. This is an exciting time both for the community of Chipping Norton and the surrounding areas."
NHS Oxfordshire has agreed with South Central Ambulance Trust for a 6 month pilot first aid service to be provided in the evenings, weekends and bank holidays. The plan is for the pilot to start in April 2011. An emergency care practitioner (ECP) will be based at the new site and will treat patients with minor problems that walk in on weekday evenings, weekends and bank holidays, as well as responding to 999 calls in the local area.
Since the transfer of services there will be no first aid unit provision until the pilot service starts in April. During this time people will need to see use services at their GP practice, Witney Minor Injuries Unit and the Horton Emergency Department. More detailed information about how to use the service and the exact opening hours will be advertised nearer the time.
Contact: NHS Oxfordshire
Contact Details: 01865 334640 /
mediaoffice@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk|