South Warwickshire Community Hospital Rehabilitation Bed Consultation
Stratford-on-Avon District Council Response

Question 1: In what capacity are you answering the questions?
Councillor

Question 2: If you are responding on behalf of a team, campaign group, or organisation
please state the name of your team / campaign group / organisation:
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Section one: Community rehabilitation inpatient beds in South Warwickshire
Page 21 of the Consultation Document sets out two proposals for the permanent relocation
of community rehabilitation inpatient beds. In both options, the total number of beds will
remain the same as they are currently.

 Option A: Provide 35 community rehabilitation inpatient beds across three sites
(Ellen Badger Hospital, Leamington Spa Hospital, and Stratford Hospital). This would
result in a configuration of beds across the 3 sites of 11-12-12.
 Option B: Provide 35 community rehabilitation inpatient beds across two sites
(Leamington Spa Hospital and Stratford Hospital). This would result in 19 beds in
Stratford Hospital and 16 beds at Leamington Spa Hospital.

Q3a: How would you rate Option A for people living in South Warwickshire? Please select
one only.
It is a poor solution

Q3b: How would you rate Option B for people living in South Warwickshire? Please select
one only
It is a very poor solution

Q3c: Please tell us which of the two options you feel is closest to meeting the needs of our
local population. Please select one only.
Option A

Q3d: Please tell us the reasons for your answer.
The Council appreciates the specialist evidence and experience of the Integrated Care
Board but is mindful of the representation of residents from within the District of Stratford-onAvon. It is understood that there are budgetary pressures which make Option B appealing,
but it is felt that sufficient weight has not been given to the concerns and needs of residents.
Residents of Shipston-on-Stour and the surrounding area have been very vocal in their
disappointment at the prospect of no longer having any community rehabilitation beds at the
Ellen Badger hospital. While the consultation document explains that the beds are currently
located at Stratford and Leamington and does acknowledge that beds were ‘temporarily’
removed from Shipston due to the renovation works, Option B still frames the scenario as
removing beds from Stratford and Leamington rather than returning them to Shipston. Local
residents feel that they have had beds taken away that they were led to believe would be
returned once work on the new hospital was completed.

Whilst there are clear benefits to Option B in terms of efficiency of services and quality of
care, there are specific challenges faced by residents in rural areas that mean those in the
south of the District would be adversely affected by this course of action. The increased
journey for families to Stratford and Leamington hospitals is significant when taking into
consideration the regularity and timings of hospital visits. Transport links are poorer in this
part of the District, and some of these communities are already extremely isolated in an
ever-increasing way. The detrimental effect on both the patients and the families is thought
to be significant. In summary, the significant cost of Option B will be to residents in the south
of the District, who will take on the economic and social burden of these changes.

Q4: What impact will these proposals have on you, your family, or other people you know?
Option A: Negative impact
Option B: Very negative impact

Q4a: If you feel either of the options will have a positive or negative impact on you, your
family, or people you know, please tell us why.
Whilst the greatest burden is expected to be suffered by the residents in the south of the
District, as explained in response to question 3d, both courses of action are thought to be
detrimental to residents across the District.
The options available are limited in that they only provide for a set number of beds, which
may be too few considering the growing population, the aging community and the projected
number of new homes to be built in the Shipston area. The Council would urge the ICB to
review the required number of beds. If it is revealed that more beds would be required, a
preferable course of action would be to return beds to the Ellen Badger before increasing the
number of beds at Stratford or Leamington.
Furthermore, the choice between the two options has a divisive effect on localities within the
District, as it frames Option A as taking beds away from the other sites, whilst Option B is
seen by many residents to be taking away beds which belong in Shipston.
For residents in all areas of the District, there is a particular social significance of being close
to one’s own community when receiving this kind of care, considering home visits by the
patient and visits from family; this kind of social support is thought to be of utmost
importance for patients’ recovery. For this reason, the Council highlights the importance of
each area having a sufficient number of community beds, and that they are proportionately
allocated across the area of South Warwickshire.

Q5: Please use this space to share any other comments or suggestions you would like to
make in relation to community-based rehabilitation inpatient beds in South Warwickshire
There have been some reports of residents being unable to access the consultation, but
enquiries have revealed that this has been looked into and dealt with accordingly.
The data regarding bed usage may be misleading as it is based on a period which the Ellen
Badger was closed for much of. As stated above, it is recommended that the required
number of beds and the needs of each area are reconsidered.