Community hospital location revealed

The location of a new £11million community hospital in the Forest of Dean can now be revealed, according to a leaked NHS internal email.

The email, sent to all staff at Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, said the new hospital will be built on greenfield land in the north of Cinderford.

A map included in the email shows the trust plans to buy and build on the Collingwood Skatepark and Lower High Street playing field in Steam Mills Road.

The new hospital will replace Lydney and Dilke hospitals, which the NHS in Gloucestershire said are no longer fit for purpose.

Last year, a citizen’s jury made up of members of the public, recommended the location of the new hospital be Cinderford over two other towns – Coleford and Lydney.

The trust is aiming to open the new hospital in 2022, the email said.

Writing to staff in the email, Angela Potter, director of strategy and partnership at the trust, said: “This is an exciting milestone which brings us a step closer to our vision of a modern, purpose-built hospital for the Forest of Dean.

“Working in partnership with the Town Council we believe we have found an excellent site and one which best suits the needs of the people of the Forest, in line with the recommendations of the Citizen’s Jury.”

According to the email, the chosen site ill put the new hospital close to the town centre and “make it as accessible as possible” whether travelling by car or by public transport.

The trust has been contacted  for further comment.