'Beyond repair' community hospital to close

A hospital trust has announced it will move out of a site saying it was no longer fit for purpose.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said the ceiling at Accrington Victoria Community Hospital was collapsing, the building had asbestos and two of its three boilers were now broken.

The trust said the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), X-Ray, Outpatients and GP services currently provided at the hospital would be relocated to either Accrington PALS in the town centre or Acorn health centre on Blackburn Road

The trust's chief executive, Martin Hodgson, said: "The simple truth is that the building is beyond repair."

"We have been unable to keep on top of the immense, routine maintenance required for quite some time," he said.

"It is dangerous to remain there as we head into winter and, sadly, the building no longer provides the kind of environment we need for patients or our teams."

Mr Hodgson said the trust would not demolish or sell the building but would work with the community and council to find a new use for it.

"Our intention is for local people to be a big part of deciding what comes next for Accrington Victoria and how the hospital site can be protected and regenerated for years to come," he said.

Patient Steve Richards told the BBC that news of the closure was "absolutely shocking" and said staff there had been really helpful to him when he went in with a hand injury.

He said the hospital was "really important" and that once it was gone people in the local community would need to travel "miles down the road" to get to the nearest hospital in Blackburn.

"Having this on the doorstep is a lifesaver," he added.

Hyndburn Borough Council's disability champion councillor, Clare Pritchard, said the closure of the hospital would be "a really massive deal" and that this was "a really sad day for Accrington".

"I spent 20 years of my life fighting to try to keep Accrington Victoria in some shape or form and, to be honest, it feels really disappointing and like the end of an era," she said.

"This is the only community health facility we've got in the north of Accrington and it's really really important that we at least retain a GP site in this area," Pritchard added.

The hospital provides out-patient and community services and also has dedicated specialist departments such as physiotherapy, podiatry and renal.

Patients with upcoming appointments have been advised to attend the hospital as usual.

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