Health chiefs today announced a proposal to move in-patient beds from the cramped conditions of a ward at Thornbury Hospital to a new purpose-built facility improving quality of care and rehabilitation for individuals.
The initiative by Sirona care & health is supported by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) which commissions the service and by North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) which owns the hospital site.
The detail will be outlined to South Gloucestershire councillors at next Wednesday’s Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee.
The plan is to relocate the current Henderson Ward to a new nursing home development with no change in the number of available beds. It will be known as the Henderson Rehabilitation Unit.
Sirona already operates an inpatient rehabilitation unit in a care home in Yate. This opened in February 2018 and is proving very successful.
Plans for outpatient clinics currently held at the hospital by Sirona and NBT are also being developed.
Jenny Theed, Director of Nursing and Operations at Sirona care & health, said: “We believe this will improve quality of provision for local people.
“The current in-patient unit is very cramped for the 20 individuals who are cared for there. The amount of available space also reduces our ability to give people intensive therapy which is needed to ensure they are as mobile as possible.
“Our staff have been doing an amazing job in difficult conditions for some time and they will all be moving to the new location and are excited as we are about the prospect.”
David Jarrett, South Gloucestershire Area Director, from BNSSG CCG, said: “We fully support Sirona’s plans to move the Henderson Ward rehabilitation beds to the new facility which should provide improved facilities for people just a short distance from the current hospital site. We continue to work with our system partners to ensure that local healthcare services are provided for the people of Thornbury.
“This interim move is aligned to our vision for the development of improved rehabilitation, reablement and recovery for South Gloucestershire. These plans, as approved by our Governing Body in April, include developing a new enhanced primary and community care hub to serve the needs of the population of Thornbury.”
Cllr Toby Savage, leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We support this move, the condition and layout of Henderson Ward does not support 21st Century rehabilitation services.
“The interim provision in the new care home will deliver an improved setting for care and help unlock the NBT owned Thornbury hospital site for which an agreed health and social care vision exists.
“It was always going to be problematic to build new health and social care facilities on the existing hospital site whilst also caring for vulnerable residents onsite at the same time and so this announcement starts to get around this difficulty.”
Tricia Down, Head of Sustainable Health and Capital Planning at NBT, said: “We are pleased that Sirona will be continuing to provide inpatient services in Thornbury through this innovative approach. We are committed to working with Sirona and our other partners to develop services for local people.”
Shirley Holloway, chair of Thornbury Hospital’s League of Friends, said: “The League of Friends is very sad but understands why our patients and staff are leaving Henderson Ward; we have assisted with Thornbury Hospital for 65 years. We are pleased services are remaining in Thornbury and we will continue to support those people in the new Henderson Rehabilitation Unit.”
The plan is to move the service in early November.
