Hundreds battle to save stroke rehab centre

Over 600 people have signed a petition to stop the closure of a stroke rehabilitation centre in the Black Country.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust plans to close Hollybank House on Coltham Road in Willenhall and move its services to West Park Hospital in Wolverhampton.

The trust said Hollybank House is in need of a £500,000 upgrade to make it compliant with regulations and has proposed to use the money to improve "at home" rehabilitation for patients instead.

Lead petitioner Dianne Bettridge criticised the trust for moving services out of the borough, making it difficult for patients and visitors.

"Stroke rehabilitation including beds should be kept in Walsall, as Walsall residents want to be closer to home while they recover," she said.

"This service is under threat of being taken from Walsall residents with stroke rehabilitation beds being moved to West Park in Wolverhampton.

"This means no beds will be available close to home for Walsall residents. As someone who works within this dedicated team, I can attest to the excellent service we provide to Walsall residents."

Stephanie Cartwright, community partnership director for the trust, said the new model will see patients spend less time in hospital and be better cared for at home.

Speaking at the health and social care scrutiny committee last month, she said: "There isn't an option to keep Hollybank as a building open. It is not healthcare compliant.

"The building itself needs a lot of work done to it to be able to maintain services and there is significant cost attached to that, which is why we've looked at other options to provide stroke rehab services in Walsall."

It was heard that two others options were considered by the trust: one was to move the facility to Walsall Manor Hospital, and the other was to move it into a former care home, but neither were suitable.

Ms Cartwright confirmed that no staff would lose their jobs.

At the meeting, Ms Bettridge read out a patient's statement who is currently being looked after at Hollybank House, who said: "I do not agree with any of this model change. I could not imagine a more holistic or rehabilitating environment than Hollybank House."

Kelly Geffen, director of nursing at the trust, added: "Quality and safety of our patients won't change. It's going to be the main priority of what we deliver.

"We're going to do everything we can to continue to deliver the level of care we currently do."

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