For those of you unaware, the W.A.T.CH Project has been commissioned by the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to produce two mosaics for the new Chard hospital site. The first one is titled ‘Care in the Community’ and is currently in production.
In regards to the redevelopment of the hospital itself, Edward Colgan (Chief Executive of the Somerset Partnership) has kindly given us permission to post the following:
“Somerset Partnership remains committed to the redevelopment of the Chard Community Hospital site. At its meeting on 24 March 2015, the Trust Board approved the capital programme for the next three years which will support the re-building and redevelopment of Chard Hospital in three phases.
The Trust mindful though that the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group is still undertaking its review of Community Services and only once that work is finished we will a better understanding of the services the CCG will need at the site in future and for that reason it is proposed to start the work in 2016.
The Trust believes the Chard site offers tremendous potential for redevelopment and would be a great site to provide a range of integrated services. Currently it hosts a minor injury unit, school nurses and health visitors, hospital-based outpatients’ services, in patient services and mental health services.
The Trust plans to start the first phase of redevelopment next year and this will involve improving inpatient accommodation (currently on the first floor of the hospital), by refurbish the existing Bracken house building to accommodate the inpatient ward with better facilities and greater privacy for patients on the Bracken House side of the site. The Trust has, however, indicated that capital funds might be available to enable an earlier start date to the scheme once the CCG has set out its expectations for the hospital in light of its review.
The project is expected to cost £4.8million.”
Consider yourselves well informed!
