Campaign group unveils plans for Lutterworth’s hospital but NHS says beds won’t come back

The Mary Guppy Group has been calling for improvements to the hospital for a decade, and campaigned for the site to be kept open when it faced closure during the pandemic in 2020.

Now, the team has drawn up plans to take the hospital to the next level and bring more services closer to home for thousands living nearby.

Mary Guppy, who was born in the hospital, said: "Lutterworth Hospital was an absolute godsend.

“What we want is the best community hospital for the district. That’s all we need.”

The hospital, which currently offers community healthcare services, closed its inpatient beds during the pandemic, meaning that those needing inpatient treatment have to go to hospitals in Coventry or Leicester.

David Fish, 71, has been part of the campaign group since 2021. He argues that, with the area’s ageing population, bringing convalescent beds back to the site would save the NHS money - which could be used to pay for the renovation.

He said: “We believe by offering an alternative provision for this group of people… it would actually save money from the budget being used on delayed discharges.

“We’ve got to somehow get them to see that you could deliver something state of the art, but for much less money than the NHS would expect, and in fact it would pay for itself and give money back to the NHS.

“That has never happened anywhere before, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s so difficult for us to convince anybody that it’s a good idea.”

The group have taken their proposals, created by One Medical Group, to the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board.

These include rebuilding the facility, using Foleshill Medical Centre in Coventry as a template.

Under the plans, the building would have nine consultation rooms.

A spokesperson for LLR ICB said: "We have committed to exploring the future development of Feilding Palmer Hospital as a Neighbourhood Health Centre for the local community.

“A steering group, which includes representatives from the Mary Guppy Group, has met regularly over the last six months to consider local health needs, service requirements and future options for the site. A range of ideas and proposals have been put forward by stakeholders and these will help inform the ongoing work.

“As a result of previous consultations and decisions there will not be a return of inpatient beds at the hospital, but rather this group is assessing how it can best serve the local area as a Neighbourhood Health Centre.

“We are currently developing a Case for Change and have submitted a request for capital funding to NHS England. A draft Case for Change is expected later this year, following further engagement and analysis."

A spokesperson from Alberto Costa MP’s office said: “ Alberto has worked very hard to maintain a healthcare facility at the Feilding Palmer hospital.

“During the pandemic, Alberto was instrumental in having the hospital reopened as a community vaccination centre and will continue to make the case to the Labour Government to ensure that the Feilding Palmer is at the centre of a healthcare campus benefitting the people of Lutterworth and the surrounding villages.”