Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust is being criticised for the lack of community engagement on the closure of Rowan Ward at Petersfield Community Hospital.

The proposal is to move from rehabilitation (for example after an operation) on wards to a service based on home care. 

Councillor Jamie Matthews attended a Trust information event on Wednesday 10 September at Winton House and made his points to them. 

He is critical of the lack of consultation on the proposals whilst changes - including redundancies  - are being sought now.

We have asked the Trust for a response and offered them an interview.

The Trust published a "September Update" here: Increasing home-based rehabilitation :: Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust  - which says:

"The proposal recommends reducing bedded capacity across two sites; Summerlee Unit (located in Portsmouth) by 20 beds, and Rowan Ward at Petersfield Hospital by 20 beds, as the demand data and population demographics support a more home-based focus for these local communities. The total combined number of rehabilitation beds (inpatient and hospital at home) will be maintained at 293 beds. We will also increase support worker capacity so care hours can be increased and flexed based on patient need, bolstering what’s already offered by local authority partners."

We will be reporting further on this story as it develops.

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