CCG to make call on under-threat inpatient ward

Earlier this year, Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) ran a consultation to consider the fate of the facility’s 12 beds.

The ward has been closed since September 2016 due to ‘low usage’ and the consultation put forward a proposal to permanently shut the facility and shape existing services around a Health and Wellbeing Centre on the hospital site.

However, the Coquetdale community campaigned against this, calling for the beds to be reopened.

The CCG has now prepared a decision-making report and this will be considered by the CCG’s Joint Locality Executive Board at the meeting on Wednesday. The Board is recommended to decide on one of the following courses of action:

• Re-open the inpatient ward at the hospital;

• Re-open the inpatient ward and develop a Health and Wellbeing Centre on the hospital site;

• Permanently close the inpatient ward and shape existing services around a Health and Wellbeing Centre on the hospital site at Rothbury.

The meeting takes place at Morpeth Town Hall from 11am and the public is welcome to attend as observers. To confirm attendance, call 01670 335185.

Northumberland County Council’s health and wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee will consider the CCG’s decision at a public meeting on October 17.

No final announcement will be made before this date.