There’s a bright future ahead for Fleetwood Hospital with the announcement the building has been purchased as a valuable new resource for the Town and the community - and one of our parishes has a key role at the heart of the project.

The new owners are the Fleetwood Trust and their plans for the site include maintaining and increasing the NHS care provision while also creating new community spaces for the benefit of local residents.

The Fleetwood Trust (picture shows the members) is a not-for profit group of individuals representing the community as residents; health care professionals; business, voluntary and faith leaders, including Rev. Canon John Hall, Vicar of Fleetwood St Peter and St David.

Trustee Frank Heald said: “This is an exciting and unique opportunity for Fleetwood. We will be working closely with the previous owners Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Clinical Commissioning Group and other partners so residents can look forward to increased and much-needed care services in the Town. The site will also become a new, vibrant, community-led facility.”

The purchase price and the costs of refurbishment to the roof and other initial works has been secured by anonymous donation and scaffolding is already in place for this to begin.

Discussions are at an advanced stage to see supportive and rehabilitative healthcare available on the site for patients in recovery and more information will be presented soon. Wendy Swift, Chief Executive of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Fleetwood Trust on developing this site into what will become a vital community asset for the town. The Trust will benefit from works that will help improve the experience for patients and staff.’’

Consultation on how the building could be utilised has been identified by the Trust as integral to its long-term sustainability and this will begin before the end of the year.

Fellow trustee Rev. Canon John Hall added, “We will be welcoming everyone within the town to suggest uses for the public spaces and want to find imaginative solutions. It’s about creating an environment where individuals can engage with each other to develop their skills and confidence, something for the whole community to take pride in.

"There is so much good work going on in Fleetwood between all parties and we want the building to act as catalyst for the future but it’s important that we take nothing for granted. We need to identify what is really needed and don’t duplicate or detract from what is already available elsewhere in the Town.”

Further details regarding specific aspects of the project and information on the many ways residents and local organisations will be able to give their suggestions to help shape the new facilities will be announced by the Fleetwood Trust in the coming weeks.

Photo shows: The Fleetwood Trust (left to right): Tom Birch, Rev. Canon John Hall, Rebecca Murdoch, Frank Heald, Lord Tom McNally (chair), Canon Alf Hayes, Tracey Bush, Andy Charles, Bev Lucas, David Gore.

Article from the Fleetwood Trust; written by David Gore

Ronnie Semley, November 30, 2018