Health bosses permanently close community hospital

Health bosses in Cornwall have decided to permanently close Fowey Hospital after mothballing the facility nine years ago.

Campaigners had launched a bid to save the hospital in March but the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board had now determined it was not viable for healthcare provision.

NHS Property Services, which owns the Fowey Hospital building, and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which owns the gardens, said a decision on the future use of the site had not been made.

The move drew a mixed response from residents when asked by the BBC for their views.

Margaret Gardener she was "very sad about it" but acknowledged the facility had not been operational for nearly a decade.

"They talk about the doctors doing lots of extra things, but I don't know how they manage that because I find it really difficult to get them to answer my phone," she said.

Fellow resident Kevin Rouse, who runs a Cornish brand shop in the town, questioned efforts to keep the hospital open.

"It's six beds and to make it viable you need 16 beds," he said.

"Are they wasting their time protesting?"

Julie Yeo, who drives the Fowey mini bus that carries passengers from the top car park down the steep narrow streets to the harbour, said: "I think it's terrible.

"It's such a lovely old building that could have been used, especially back in 2020 when it was desperately needed, but it's been closed for so long now I think this seems to be the end."

Chris Williams, another resident, said: "You need larger health facilities these days and we've already got a GP practice, so my view is that it's a sensible judgement.

"I would like to see good investment in the hospitals of Cornwall rather than rebuilding a cottage hospital."

NHS Property Services said surplus property "creates funds that are then reinvested into the NHS" with proceeds "split equally between local and national capital investment projects".

"We will work with our colleagues at the ICS and Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust - who own the land immediately adjacent to the property - to determine the best options and outcome for the site in accordance with our policy for surplus properties," it said.

The ICB said it requested "the community benefits from any future use of the site, which was raised during the engagement process".

"It requests that they engage with the Fowey community to explore if and how Fowey Hospital charitable funds can be reallocated to benefit the health of the local community," it said.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are working through next steps to determine the future use of the gardens and find a partner to help with the transfer of charitable funds to support investment in the community."

Rob Rooney, from the campaign group Reopen Fowey Hospital, said it would be challenging the decision.

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