Health centre closure to be revisited by NHS

11 hours ago

Owen SennittNorfolk

News image — Campaigners have already worked to prove the building is an asset of community value

Cameron Noble/BBC A group of three campaigners outside a former NHS building, known as Benjamin Court in Cromer. They are all standing and looking towards the camera and are holding signs. Some of the signs read, 'NHS reablement care for North Norfolk', 'Stop bed-blocking Reopen Benjamin Court', 'Save & Reopen Benjamin Court' and 'HOSPITALS FULL BENJAMIN COURT EMPTY'. — Campaigners have already worked to prove the building is an asset of community value

Campaigners are hopeful a shuttered health centre earmarked to be sold could be reused, following meetings with officials.

Save Benjamin Court members have been fighting to bring the reablement facility in Cromer back into use after its closure in 2023.

The site used to offer rehabilitation for patients who were ready to be discharged from hospital, but still needed more support before going home.

At a recent meeting, campaigners said they had "positive" talks with the newly formed Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board (ICB), which indicated it wanted to create more neighbourhood health services in the area.

Martin Giles/BBC A wide view of Benjamin Court, showing the front car park fronted by a brick wall sign with Benjamin Court on it in white lettering. A single storey red brick building is beyond. One white transit van and two cars are in the car park. — NHS officials previously said Benjamin Court in Cromer was not needed

An ICB spokesperson said: "We have agreed to meet with the group again in the summer to explore service provision in the area and to work with partner organisations, so local people have access to a broad range of services they need.

"We are committed to working with the group and are grateful to them for the feedback they have shared with us, as part of their most recent survey."

NHS Property Services said it expected to sell the site last year, after the Norfolk and Waveney ICB said it could not find a way to make the facility work with other services and in a way that was "financially viable".

The ICB has since merged with NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, and said it would prioritise "more preventative, joined-up and community-based care".

Martin Booth, one of the Benjamin Court campaigners, said the talks appeared to mark a change in attitude about the site.

He said: "This is a step forward from how things were before. They want to work with us to develop neighbourhood health care options."

However, Booth said his group remained frustrated Benjamin Court was sitting empty.

He said: "Delayed discharges from hospital are as bad as ever. We are pleased with the progress but as far as we are concerned, we want to see it opened as soon as possible."

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