THERE is still strong support for retaining two hospitals in the Forest, the latest consultation has shown – despite health chiefs’ hopes that the “conversation” would have “moved on” by now.

The consultation, run by the Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Gloucestershire Health and Care Trust, was officially about what services people would like to see at the proposed new hospital in Cinderford.

But many people – particularly from the area between Lydney and Beachley – took the opportunity to again send a message that two hospitals are needed in the district.

They pointed to the projected increase in population, especially in the south of the Forest, and the difficulty some will find in getting to the new hospital on the outskirts of Cinderford town centre.

But Gloucestershire County Council’s health overview and scrutiny committee was told the decision to move to one hospital was not going to be reversed.

Caroline Smith, the CCG’s senior manager for engagement and inclusion, told the committee: “There is quite a lot of variation in the responses we received and many people reflected back on previous consultations we had held from two hospitals to one and wanting to revisit the location.

“We have been quite clear that those decisions have been made and we were trying to move the conversation on.

“We were pleased that we did get some feedback around the specifics of the service model but a lot of the feedback does hark back to some of those earlier conversations that we have been having on the Forest of Dean since 2015.”

The CCG’s director of transformation and service redesign, Ellen Rule said the responses were unsurprising as they were “highly reflective” of previous consultations.

She added: “Of course consultation is not a referendum, it is advisory and we have looked carefully at the qualitative information we received.

“We also have to take into account the drivers for change, they are relevant and if anything even more urgent than we looked at this back in 2015.

“We have two ageing buildings, much loved but very ancient buildings that are just not economic to maintain. We need a new facility for the Forest of Dean.

“We have had learning about how that sort of estate is not amenable in the current crisis with the result a significant number of beds have been shut in the Forest since the start of Covid because they are not up to it in terms of distancing.”

Health and Care Trust chief executive Paul Roberts added: “The Covid epidemic has put an extra emphasis on not delaying what we need to do. Both the hospitals have been extremely problematic to deliver safe care in the pandemic.

“We’ve had to keep the minor injuries unit at the Dilke closed because it is unsuitable for Covid working and we’ve had to close beds in both hospitals.

“My experience of visiting and talking to the staff is that operating in those circumstances is extremely challenging.”

Among the respondents to the consultation was a staff nurse working at the Dilke who said: “...the resources we are having to work with, or lack of, inhibits our ability to care for our inpatients to the standard at which everyone should expect from a modern NHS - heating and hot water not working during cold months (already starting!!) can make a miserable time for our patients and staff.

“I fully welcome the new and updated hospital where I hope to continue to work in inpatients.”

Among the other concerns raised in the consultation was a reduction in opening hours for the urgent care unit and a reduction in the number of beds.

The results of the consultation will be considered by the CCG and health trust boards as part of the business case which will presented to the health trust board in March.