OXFORD Community Hospital, which was closed 15-months ago after a superbug outbreak, is due to open again on Monday.

After a long battle with Oxfordshire health bosses, campaigners were last month told they had won their fight to replace the much-loved community hospital.

And last night, those who had fought for the reopening of the facility, which provides rehabilitation for people after major surgery or treatment, celebrated its imminent opening.

The old 26-bed unit, which was based at the Churchill Hospital and affectionately known as Oxcomm, was closed in May last year after an outbreak of the bacteria clostridium difficile.

The new facility will be a temporary 20 bed ward on level seven of the JR. Next summer a permanent 20-bed unit will open, taking up about half of level five.

Janice McBride, one of the nurses who was based at the old unit, said: “All we want to say is we are really happy for the people of Oxford the new hospital is going to open — it is much needed.”

Retired Unison member Joe Richards, from Blackbird Leys, said the move meant older people could now be closer to their loved ones while they were ill.

The 78-year-old, from Overmead Green, said: “It breaks your heart when you see someone crying because they’re being sent out from Oxford to Witney, away from their family and their friends.

“This is great news.

“Now people will be able to be closer to their relatives and their support networks while they get better.”

But Green Party county councillor Larry Sanders said 20 beds was still inadequate.

He added: “It’s not enough, but it’s a definite start. And we can celebrate the fact the PCT will be looking at this at the end of the year.”

An independent investigation blamed the closure of the old hospital after a c diff outbreak on poor management and inadequate monitoring.

The new unit will have a new name — the City Community Hospital — and will be run by Community Health Oxfordshire, the healthcare provider arm of Oxfordshire PCT.

PCT director Alan Webb said: “We have worked very closely with CHO and the ORH to ensure the new facilities will be state of the art.

“Patients will be able to benefit from the new environment including a sensory garden and assisted kitchen which, along with new pathways of care, will aid their rehabilitation.”

CHO managing director Geoff Rowbotham added: “The development of this new community hospital service has been a pioneering example of how local providers can work together across traditional barriers to develop an innovative service for our patients.”

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk