Second Protest Occurs Regarding Planned Hospital Ward Closure

Over 400 individuals participated in a march through Rugby to demonstrate against the proposed closure of a hospital ward. The Hoskyn Ward at The Hospital of St Cross, which comprises 25 of the 110 beds available at the facility, is scheduled for closure on 4 December. A similar demonstration held last month concerning the decision to close this ward in the Warwickshire town similarly drew hundreds of participants. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has stated its ambitious intentions to redevelop the hospital and create a superior environment for both its staff and patients. This elderly care ward is slated for closure, occurring over ten years after the hospital’s A&E department was discontinued. Furthermore, campaigners are advocating for improved emergency care services. The existing urgent treatment centre operates under nurse leadership, necessitating that numerous patients travel over 10 miles to University Hospital in Coventry. Robin Lightfoot, one of the protesters, commented: “We’ve already got a lot of elderly residents in Rugby, so why are we shutting down the… ward, when it’s one of the most needed wards and it does a lot of good.” He added, “My grandma was helped by it. A lot of people here’s family members were helped by it.” Michelle Mitchell, a former nurse, declared: “I’m so passionate about it, I could burst into tears right now. “It’s all about lack of staff… Change the training, make it easier. We don’t need university training for nurses. It’s a caring vocational job.” A spokesperson for the trust had previously indicated that the closure was a consequence of reduced demand for patient transfers from Coventry to the hospital, and that the availability of inpatient beds would not be affected. According to a review, Trust chief executive Prof Andy Hardy has stated that the hospital no longer requires its current capacity of inpatient beds. He also mentioned recent financial commitments towards new operating theatres and a new endoscopy unit at the facility. He further elaborated, “Further to this, in 2026, subject to approval of a planning application by Rugby Borough Council, we plan to build a new ward and theatre block on the site.” Information regarding BBC Coventry & Warwickshire is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright for this content is held by BBC, 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Details concerning the BBC’s policy on external linking are accessible.