Councillor calls for progress on Rothbury hospital plans following delays due to pandemic

The project board was created to develop the facilities at Rothbury Community Hospital following a four year campaign for the beds to return to the hospital after their closure in 2016.

The board last met 14 months ago and plans to develop and reopen facilities at the hospital were put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for the NHS to reprioritise resources.

Cllr Bridgett, re-elected to the Rothbury division of Northumberland County Council last week, praised the NHS workers that sit on the project board for their excellent work during the pandemic.

But he added: “Given that 14 months have now passed since we all last met and given the success of the vaccination programme and the significant alleviation of pressures on the NHS, I think now would be the appropriate time to look at scheduling a meeting of The Rothbury Community Hospital Project Board.”

“We need to assess where we are currently at with works and progress at the hospital, what still needs to be done and what will be the start date for the opening of the beds.

“The expansion of facilities at Rothbury Community Hospital and the reopening of the beds is one of the number one priorities for local residents and we are now in the best position we have been in the last 14 months to restart discussions and works at the hospital as we cannot have this dragging on any longer.”

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