Patients are being asked to give their feedback on the Wantage Community Hospital to shape its future service amid concerns over the rising population in the area. 

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Wantage Town Council and the Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and West Berkshire Integrated Care Board have co-produced and launched a survey and series of events to gather views and feedback.

This comes as the population of the OX12 area is set rise by 55 per cent between 2011 and 2031.

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Dan Leveson, place director for Oxfordshire at Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, said: “Wantage Community Hospital is a much-valued part of the local community and provides services to residents from the local area and beyond.

“The hospital has a rich history as a focal point in the local community and we want the people who live there to get involved now and help shape its future with us.

“Since a range of services were introduced to the hospital it is clear that there is enthusiasm for the hospital and its ongoing role in the local community.

“It’s important at this stage, as the piloting of these services have been running for more than a year, that we get feedback and views from people who use the hospital now and may do in the future.”

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, chair of Wantage Town Council health sub-committee, said: “This is a big opportunity for people to not just have their say, but to help shape future services at Wantage Community Hospital.

“I want to urge anyone with an interest to sign up to one of the public engagement sessions, fill in the online survey or come to the drop-in session.

“We will also be distributing hard copy questionnaires locally for those who prefer that format.”

Oxford Mail:

Councillor Jane Hanna OBE, chairwoman of the Oxfordshire joint health overview and scrutiny committee, said: “A huge amount of work has been going on since June between the NHS and Oxfordshire County Council, the Wantage Town Council Health Committee and voluntary groups to be in a position to engage with residents about the future of hospital-like services for this NHS Neighbourhood.

“It is a really vital opportunity for everyone living in the area to give feedback before the NHS works up the detail of what improvements can be brought and a report brought back to the OCC HOSC committee.”

Dr Ben Riley, executive managing director for primary, community and dental care for Oxford Health, said: “We have been working in partnership with local stakeholders to identify possible future scenarios for how services may be delivered from Wantage Community Hospital and now really keen to hear from as many people as possible on what matters most to them and their families.”

To take part in one of the sessions listed below, or fill in the online survey at https://bit.ly/3tcr866.

The scheduled events are on October 17 between 12.30pm and 2.30pm at The Beacon, Portway in Wantage, October 18 between 2pm and 3pm online via zoom and October 19 between 7pm and 8pm for an online focus group via Zoom.