The Director of Strategy for Bucks Healthcare Trust has issued a statement after a former councillor called on the trust to explain their future plans for the Chartridge ward at Amersham Hospital.

Former Hughenden councillor Linda Derrick wrote to the trust, calling for the ‘right number of hospital beds with the right number of properly qualified staff, providing the right sort of care, and in the right places.’

The ward stopped admitting new patients in July this year after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) imposed conditions regarding staffing levels in the community inpatient ward.

Now David Williams, Director of Strategy for the Trust, has provided an update regarding the future of the ward.

Mr Williams said: “Thank you for the opportunity to explain the decisions behind the temporary closure of Chartridge ward and options currently being discussed about the future use of the ward at Amersham Hospital.

"Following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection earlier this year the CQC imposed conditions regarding staffing levels in our community inpatient wards.

"The Trust was unable to meet these conditions due to a shortage of nurses and therapists and took the decision to stop admitting patients to Chartridge ward. Patients requiring inpatient rehabilitation are now being cared for either on our therapy led unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, or in Buckingham Community Hospital or on the Waterside Ward at Amersham Hospital.

"A quality impact assessment in advance of the decision to temporarily close Chartridge ward was completed and influenced by the fact that we were unable to sustain safe staffing levels.

"As a result, a number of additional services have been put in place to ensure patients are cared for safely and can return home as soon as they are medically fit to do so after a hospital stay.

"These include enhanced therapy support in the community wards at Amersham Hospital and increasing the level of elderly care consultant support provided on our surgical wards and in the A&E department at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

"We have also established a new community assessment and treatment service at Amersham Hospital so additional support can be provided for patients to allow them to remain independent at home and avoid a hospital admission.

"These measures have ensured that, despite the temporary ward closure, patients can access the care when they need it and their rehabilitation can continue in the community.

"We are in close discussions with Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the Health and Social Care Select Committee (HASC) and Buckinghamshire County Council about the future of Chartridge ward at Amersham Hospital and are due to report back on our plans for the future in November.

"We will continue to work with all members of our local community in Buckinghamshire in order to provide the best healthcare services both in our acute hospitals, our community hospitals, community health centres and in people’s homes."