Location of a new community hospital in the Forest of Dean
NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust (GCS) are set to carry out further public engagement on the location of a new community hospital, starting on the 21 May, 2018.
This follows the decisions of the CCG Governing Body and GCS Board at their meetings on 25 January, 2018, when they approved the preferred option of a new community hospital in the Forest of Dean to replace Dilke Memorial Hospital and Lydney and District Hospital.
The information received during the upcoming 6 week period of public engagement will be presented to the *Citizens’ Jury of Forest of Dean residents at the end of July and will help them in making a recommendation on location to the CCG Governing Body and GCS Board.
The Citizens’ Jury will also receive information from local representatives, healthcare professionals, councils and transport providers.
Before making their decisions, the CCG Governing Body and GCS Board will consider the recommendation from the Citizens’ Jury, together with feedback received during the public engagement, feedback from health and care staff, information about travel and access issues and other local population data.
Accountable Officer at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Mary Hutton said:
“We strongly believe that the preferred option of a new community hospital offers a number of benefits to local patients – whether that’s improved clinical space to support services, overcoming the challenges of maintaining some essential services across two sites or providing a great care environment for patients and staff.
As well as agreeing the site criteria for a new hospital at our Board meetings, the recommendation to carry out further public engagement on the location was also agreed and we are pleased to get this underway next week.”
Joint Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust and 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, Paul Roberts said:
“Lots of people who responded to the earlier public consultation, wanted Forest residents to be involved in this way and this period of public engagement is a great opportunity to get involved in the process of identifying a preferred location for the hospital.
We would actively encourage local people to have their say by attending an event and completing the feedback form.
We are really keen to work in partnership with local people and staff to deliver a wonderful new community hospital that can support the highest possible care and that the Forest of Dean can be rightly proud.”
The engagement booklet and feedback form will be available from 21 May at www.fodhealth.nhs.uk, at the events and will also be distributed to GP surgeries, libraries, pharmacies and community hospitals.
Event listing:
| Date | Time | Type of event | Location | Venue |
| Monday 21 May | 10am–3pm | Drop-in | Cinderford | Co-operative Store |
| Monday 21 May | 10am–3pm | Drop-in | Coleford | Co-operative Store |
| Monday 21 May | 10am–3pm | Drop-in | Lydney | Co-operative Store |
| Thursday 24 May | 5pm–7pm | Drop-in | Coleford | Main Place, Coleford |
| Saturday 26 May | 10am–1pm | Drop-in | Lydney | Lydney Community Centre |
| Thursday 31 May | 10am–3pm | Information Bus | Cinderford | Co-operative Store |
| Wednesday 6 June | 5pm–7pm | Drop-in | Cinderford | Cinderford Rugby Club |
| Thursday 7 June | 5pm–7pm | Drop-in | Lydney | Lydney Library |
| Wednesday 13 June | 10am–3pm | Drop-in | Newent | Newent Library |
| Thursday 14 June | 10am–3pm | Drop-in | Mitcheldean | Mitcheldean Library |
| Thursday 14 June | 5pm–7pm | Drop-in | Sedbury | Community Centre |
| Saturday 16 June | 10am–1pm | Drop-in | Cinderford | Cinderford Rugby Club |
| Monday 18 June | 10am–3pm | Information Bus | Coleford | Clock Tower |
| Wednesday 27 June | 10am–3pm | Information Bus | Lydney | Newerne St Car Park |
| Saturday 30 June | 10am–1pm | Drop-in | Coleford | Main Place, Coleford |
Additional dates may be added during the engagement period. Please check www.fodhealth.nhs.uk social media and local press for details.
Citizens’ Jury
*An independent body, Citizens Juries CIC was commissioned in March to design and run the Citizens’ Jury.
This approach to making a recommendation on the location of a new community hospital is consistent with feedback received through the public consultation.
Made up of 18 local people, the Forest of Dean Citizens’ Jury will meet from 30 July – 3 August 2018 to receive information, discuss and make a recommendation about the location for a new hospital. To apply to be a Jury member visit: www.citizensjuries.org or call 07983 413064. Deadline for applications: midday 18 June 2018.