No beds at the Badger

The NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has announced that there will be no beds at the Ellen Badger hospital in Shipston.

Following a decision made at an ICB Board meeting on 19th March, the 35 community rehabilitation beds in South Warwickshire will be permanently located at two sites, Leamington Spa Hospital and Stratford Hospital – a continuation of current arrangements, which have been in place since works began at the Ellen Badger in January 2022.

This went against the very clear preference of the town and surrounding area. Responses to the six-week consultation process showed 82% in favour of having beds in three hospitals including Shipston’s Ellen Badger.

The ICB has recognised the need for a wider consideration of health services for rural communities and will now adopt a “whole system approach to engagement with communities, prioritising rural communities initially.”

The Beds for Badger organising committee has responded by saying: “We must now use this opportunity to get the focus on patient-centred care in our rural community.”

The ICB Board and NHS provider SWFT will now work in partnership to develop a full implementation plan. Read more about the Beds for Badger Campaign’s reaction on page 5 of the Shipston Forum.