RESIDENTS have been urged to attend a meeting where health officials and union members will discuss the future of Oxford Community Hospital.

The Oxford Community Hospital, at the Churchill Hospital site in Headington, closed in May after a series of outbreaks of the superbug clostridium difficile.

The 24-bed hospital, which provided intermediate care for patients after they were treated at the John Radcliffe but before they were allowed home, was declared unfit for purpose by Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust, which then began looking for replacement premises.

Since then, 10 beds were made available at Albany Care Home in Headington and spaces at other community hospitals were created.

Now a meeting has been organised by Oxford City Council on Thursday, to give the community a say on what will become of the hospital.

Dr Joe McManners, a city councillor for Churchill, said: “The loss of ‘OxComm’ has created problems for a group of people who often can't make their voices heard.

“I would like people in Oxford to come along to make their views known, so that Oxford City doesn’t lose out when the PCT makes their decision about how OxComm is to be replaced.”

The meeting will be hosted by the city council with representatives from Oxfordshire PCT, Age Concern and Unison.

Unison secretary Mark Ladbrooke said: “I have heard of patients being treated at the John Radcliffe then sent to Chipping Norton Community Hospital and then moved to Witney.

“We need to send a suitable message to the PCT that it isn’t acceptable for the hospital to have been closed for a year. People haven’t been treated well.”

Oxfordshire PCT confirmed representatives would be attending the meeting.

A spokesman added: “The PCT is undertaking an analysis of the whole county to find out how many rehabilitation beds are required and where in Oxfordshire it would be best to have them located.

“The analysis will be for services across Oxfordshire and will include Oxford.

“Following the review, proposals will be formulated on future provision and a public consultation will take place.” The Future of Oxford Community Hospital Meeting will be held at Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, on Thursday, starting at 7.30pm.

For more information email Joe McManners at joemcmanners@googlemail.com awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk