After careful review of all the feedback from the latest Public Consultation and detailed consideration of developments in local healthcare and health needs in the area, the CCG has confirmed the range of services they will commission in the new Community Hospital in the Forest of Dean.

The Governing Body met on Thursday 28 January to discuss the findings of the Public Consultation: A new hospital for the Forest of Dean and the organisation’s response.

The new hospital will be run by Gloucestershire Heath and Care NHS Foundation Trust, with services primarily provided by their staff, healthcare professionals from Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and local GPs.

The new hospital is expected to be open in 2023.

The services that will be commissioned include:

  • 24 inpatient beds with ensuite bathrooms in predominantly single rooms
  • An urgent care facility, open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, supported by a range of diagnostic services
  • Outpatient services, including a range of consultation, treatment and group rooms and additional areas for online consultations for the provision of outpatient services
  • Diagnostic services, including a dedicated endoscopy unit, x-ray, ultrasound and blood-testing (phlebotomy) and space for mobile units such as the Chemotherapy Bus and Breast Screening Service
  • Parking for approximately 150 vehicles and agreement on a bus stop, either within the site or adjacent to it
  • Flexible meeting space that can be accessed by health and care organisations plus wider voluntary sector organisations

Members of the public can read the Output of Consultation Report, recommendations, supporting information and rationale at www.fodhealth.nhs.uk/consultation.

Alongside the Consultation there is a commitment to explore options for the provision of urgent care services in the south of the Forest, and it is pleasing that over 100 people have expressed an interest in being involved in this work.

We are committed to progressing with the engagement in the South of the Forest of Dean. We have included a new primary care premises as a priority in our plan and primary care (GPs) in the South of the Forest will be working up their plan with partners in the coming months.

Mary Hutton, Accountable Officer, NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

“Governing Body members carefully considered all of the information in front of them, including the Output of Consultation Report and the detailed response, and after questions, discussion and deliberation, were able to reach their decisions.

This is a significant milestone for the district and a truly exciting development for healthcare in the Forest of Dean.”

Ellen Rule, Director of Transformation and Service Redesign, NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

“We are so pleased that local residents will benefit from a wonderful new, purpose-built hospital that will meet their needs and the needs of future generations.”

The services that will be provided will be set out in a service specification.

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust will then produce a formal business case setting out the design specification and financial plan for the building along with the ongoing operation of the new hospital. It is anticipated that this will be presented to the Board of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust for approval in spring 2021.