500 signatures reached
To: The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health & Social Care
YOU KNOW THE CHASE HOSPITAL MAKES SENSE
We request a full review of future plans for our Chase Community Hospital (built in the 1980’s for a population circa 4,600), taking into account the room for expansion, to include the following:
- the return of a fully functioning Physiotherapy Department along with an Occupational Therapy Unit,
- the return of an X-ray machine for scans and x-rays,
- the re-opening of wards of community beds for respite, care and rehabilitation,
- a return of all the clinics which operated before removal by the Clinical Commissioning Group and various NHS Hospital Trusts,
- the introduction of a Minor Injuries Unit as a minimum, but preferably an Urgent Treatment Centre for a town set to become the largest populated town in East Hampshire,
- Consideration of a Plan B for a new Health Care facility for Whitehill Bordon and surrounding district.
NHS have emphatically announced there is no Plan B.
- How can this be, bearing in mind the chosen surgery to be moved into the Health Hub was CQC rated “inadequate”?
- Whereas we understand the area requires a building to house medical facilities, why should there be no choice when there is a purpose-made adequate establishment already in existence?
- We believe the Health Hub design to be inadequate in catering for a possible population of 30,000 by 2030.
Why is this important?
Whitehill Bordon is a regeneration town, designated an Eco Town around 2010 and also home to the MOD Bordon Garrison REME which announced its departure in 2013. It sits in the North-East ‘corner’ of Hampshire, bordering Surrey & West Sussex.
The Chase Community Hospital (opened 1991) is a purpose-built healthcare facility standing in its own grounds with a car park, originally provided many healthcare services to Whitehill & Bordon and surrounding villages, with community beds for respite, care and rehabilitation, physiotherapy, x-ray department, a number of different clinics.
In 2013 an NHS Charter declared a commitment ensuring a long-term sustainable future providing health services the people want to the Chase Hospital.
During years 2013 - 2018 we watched as services were withdrawn on a widely-acknowledged deliberate basis, (to date it is reported operating at only 25% of its original capacity) when we learnt that East Hampshire District Council responsible for the massive multimillion-pound regeneration of Whitehill & Bordon, including the Health Hub, announced the future closure of the Chase Community Hospital, causing real concern for us residents. A 22,000/30,000 population is anticipated by 2030, to be supported by one existing GP practice only (Forest Surgery), to operate the new Health Hub. The Chase Hospital would then close.
The 2013 NHS Charter had been reneged upon. And we are told by EHDC we will have a “one-stop shop for local people’s primary health care needs…[just]… 0.7 miles away from Chase Community Hospital & Forest Surgery…”
There has been a long-standing distrust of the NHS Commissioning Care Group’s principles of care for the developing and growing community of the Whitehill & Bordon settlement since 2013, concern over the construction of the Health Hub in the new town centre and a growing scepticism over who is ultimately likely to benefit.
The community also has severe doubts that our Integrated Care Board’s future-proofing of expansion space of 153 sq. m. can be correct. In 2020 East Hampshire District Council predicted the area’s population is set to rise by 8,000 to 22,000 (likely to be conservative estimate), all needing access to health services - the majority registering with Forest Surgery in the new town centre’s Health Hub.
The proposed Health Hub planning application (19/06/24) states future-proofing to a “certain extent” to take into account a population increase in 4/5 years from it being operational, allowing current Forest Surgery patient numbers ONLY to increase from c.8,250 – 15/16,000, which would then move into the Health Hub.
We do not believe the major changes by the Government to The National Planning Policy Framework (12/12/24) has been taken into account by the ICB in any of their plans in their most recent report, when concern over the Health Hub’s ability to provide adequate care to an increasing population already existed!
Whitehill & Bordon is also a fairly isolated area cut off by a lack of an adequate transport system. When in need of healthcare services no longer provided locally, it is very time-consuming, expensive and extremely difficult for carless and/or vulnerable residents to access alternative facilities without transport; they are locked in their immediate locality.
We ask the Secretary of State to intervene on the basis that facilities and infrastructure MUST come with additional housing and review whether retaining Chase Community Hospital is in the best interests of the residents of Whitehill & Bordon and surrounding area.
The Chase Hospital is already there with space plus room for further expansion, ready and waiting!
The Health Hub building of 2 floors contained under five and a half floors of flats and half a floor of roof garden above, along with flats and retail outlets each side.
The Health Hub building of 2 floors contained under five and a half floors of flats and half a floor of roof garden above, along with flats and retail outlets each side.
Health Hub area: The 2-floor Health Hub total area is to be 2,922 sq.m. made up by an NHS-funded area 1,754 sq.m., we assume the 1,168 sq.m. difference is for private profit-making healthcare businesses.
Chase Hospital area: approximately 2,667 sq. m. plus Forest Surgery and its pharmacy 605 sq. m. totalling 3,272 sq. m. (Sadly only 25% fully utilized!)
What a deplorable waste of money, healthcare facility and services by the NHS, ICB, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Property Services!
We are now in 2025, some 10 years on from the Master Plan, and the Health Hub still isn’t built with no date in sight.
The local Integrated Care Board is totally focused on the Health Hub and despite our ongoing Campaign including some of your own Government’s visions, it seems reluctant to listen to local people and is not using accurate data regarding patient numbers.
Where is the logic or common sense in closing a desperately needed health facility when nearby towns that will be half the intended size of Whitehill & Bordon currently have thriving and/or expanding community hospitals that members of our community are referred to?
It seems ironic that when the Chase first opened its doors the local population of Whitehill & Bordon was 4,661. Now it is looking set to rise to circa 30,000 and authorities want to close it…!
To support our Campaign further you can also go to our Facebook page entitled: -
To support our Campaign further you can also go to our Facebook page entitled: -
YOU KNOW THE CHASE HOSPITAL MAKES SENSE
How it will be delivered
Once we have collected sufficient signatures we will direct the campaign to Wes Streeting.
