Community hospital to get million pound revamp

A community hospital is to undergo a major revamp following a 2025 public consultation over its future.

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust has announced new services and expanded facilities at Haslemere Hospital, which will enable patients to receive care closer to home and reduce the need to travel to Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.

One million pounds in capital funding has been secured to fund work refurbishing and adapting former ward space so that more outpatient and day care resources can be delivered.

Louise Stead, Group Chief Executive, said: "These plans reflect what the community has said matters most."

Last May, the hospital temporarily closed two inpatient wards, made up of 16 beds largely used by frail adults with complex needs, after a nearby GP surgery said it could no longer provide doctors to staff them.

The trust then held an event inviting residents to have their say on what should happen to services at the site.

More recently, it has been working with the likes of the Haslemere Hospital League of Friends and the Haslemere Hospital Transformation Group to brainstorm ideas, such as a long-term conditions hub, initially focusing on cardiology care and heart failure.

Set to launch in June, the hub is expected to support around 50 patients each week, with plans to expand to a wider range of conditions over time.

Also in the works is an integrated neighbourhood team to help bring together hospital, primary care and community services.

In addition, a cardiac and respiratory rehabilitation programme has already been successfully piloted from one of Haslemere's vacant wards.

This will continue as part of the newly remodelled space, while the introduction of additional clinics and greater use of on-site facilities has also been mooted.

Stead added that the aim was to "support neighbourhood health and help people to live well within their local communities, while reducing reliance on hospital-based care."

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