Rugby Councillors Urge NHS Trust to Reconsider Ward Closure

Councillors in Rugby have unanimously supported a motion requesting a local NHS trust to “urgently” reconsider its choice to close a hospital ward, citing a perceived “lack of consultation.” The Hoskyn Ward, located at the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby, is scheduled for closure on 4 December. However, a Notice of Motion from the council expressed criticism of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW), emphasizing “disappointment” regarding the previous consultation process. Prof Andy Hardy, Chief Executive of UHCW, stated that the trust maintains continuous communication with partners and other relevant stakeholders. This 25-bed ward at the Hospital of St Cross primarily serves older adult patients. Nevertheless, Prof Hardy indicated that a review determined the hospital no longer requires its current inpatient bed capacity, and the closure directly results from a decrease in hospital transfers. During a Rugby Borough Council meeting held on Wednesday, councillors reported that hospital staff informed them they had not been consulted about the closure plans. Council leader Michael Moran commented that “a fight to be had” would ensue if NHS management had misinformed councillors about the proposed closure, amidst what he described as “so many inconsistencies.” He told the meeting, “Only when we have proper transparency, facts and figures can we all be clear on the job that needs to be done.” He added, “We are not going to let this drop.” The council observed that it received no advance warning before the planned closure announcement, implying that the consultation process failed to involve “local stakeholders” before the decision was finalized. It further stated: “We urge the chairman and trust board members to urgently review their decision to close Hoskyn Ward.” Should the board decline to reconsider the decision, the council indicated its intention to “refer the matter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, asking him to intervene.” In reply, Phil Johns, chief executive of the NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board, commented: “We continue to recognise the importance of the Hospital of St Cross as a vital resource for the local community.” He also added that the ward’s closure would have “minimal impact” on the care available to residents. He further stated, “We do not believe that full public consultation was required in this case.” Over recent weeks, activists have participated in two demonstrations opposing the proposed closure, with hundreds of individuals parading through the Warwickshire town on both instances. Previously, Thomas Crinigan, the organizer of these marches, informed the BBC that there had been insufficient consultation and communication from the NHS trust.