HUNDREDS of demonstrators are expected to take to the streets of Wantage this weekend in protest at the continued ‘temporary’ closure of their community hospital.

With health services in towns across southern Oxfordshire already strained, there is concern that more facilities need to be made available for the rapidly-growing population.

A mass leafleting campaign has seen houses in Wantage, Grove and various surrounding villages invited to this Sunday's march, which demands that Wantage Community Hospital – where some maternity services are still provided – fully reopen after two years in limbo.

Wantage MP Ed Vaizey – who will address the afternoon rally alongside town councillor Jenny Hannaby – has labelled the delays ‘totally unacceptable’.

Meanwhile, residents say services in Didcot and Abingdon are also stretched.

Organised by the Save Wantage Hospital Campaign, the march is the second of its kind, after an event two years ago saw around 400 people turn out against the closure and around 10,000 sign a petition.

The group says it suspended its activities ‘in good faith’ but has now restarted its fight ‘following Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s unmet promises and actions that have left the local community without vital services’.

Oxford Health closed the last 12 in-patient beds at the hospital in July 2016 because it said the outdated plumbing system created an unacceptable risk of a legionella outbreak.

The trust said it had the £300,000 needed to replace the plumbing, but would not spend the money before seeing the results of an Oxfordshire-wide 'health transformation' consultation aiming to draw up a new route map for NHS services in the county.

The Save Wantage Hospital Campaign accuses the trust of ‘hiding behind health and safety when the building is fit for use’; ‘not delivering a phase two consultation and review of community hospitals/GP services as promised’; ‘closing two in-patient wards offering respite and end of life care’; ‘closing the physio, speech and language therapy services after losing a contract’ and ‘placing the midwifery led unit currently operating under threat’.

The trust, which has run the hospital since 2014, commented: “We recognise the importance of Wantage hospital to local people and understand that this will be demonstrated on the walk this weekend. Midwifery services continue to be delivered from the site and we are regularly monitoring the water quality. We are equally committed to working with the local population to explore the very best solutions for the delivery of services that meet their needs. 

"As health and care system partners, we are doing this by working closely with local people, commissioners and other provider NHS organisations including GPs, voluntary organisations and local authorities, to determine, develop and deliver plans more attuned to the needs of Wantage and the surrounding villages.”

Mr Vaizey told the Herald: “The delays to a decision about the future of Wantage hospital have been totally unacceptable and I have demanded that Oxford Health and Oxfordshire CCG come up with an overarching plan for the future of healthcare services in Wantage.

“I understand plans are being drawn up which will then be thoroughly consulted on and I am very pleased that progress is being made with the much needed expansion of the health centre.”

In Didcot, councillors warned earlier this year that a ‘crumbling’ health system will not be able to cope with rapid population growth, leaving residents to face ever-longer waiting times and travelling further to see a GP.

Elsewhere, campaigners in Abingdon have been critical of the local authorities for closing the town’s children’s centre in March last year and not opening an alternative.

Town councillor Samantha Bowring, who is helping arrange the Abingdon Carousel to bring children’s services back to the town, said: “The only services that are left are for families in crisis.

“I am quite angry at the lack of support for from the authorities – they have cut funding and are making it difficult for campaigners.”

Demonstrators in Wantage are planning to meet at The Green next to Foliat Drive at 2pm then walk past the hospital into the town centre.

Mrs Hannaby, who has helped organise the march, said: “This is the fourth time the hospital has been threatened with closure. With uncertainties of when or if we will be consulted by the CCG (or the trust) the community needs to send a clear message that it wishes to have its say on any decision making regarding Wantage hospital.

“The march is the start of this message."

Local campaigner Julie Mabberley added: “It’s really important that we demonstrate the strength of feeling in the town about retaining our hospital.”

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group did not respond to a request for comment.

Neither NHS England nor Ed Vaizey responded to a question about whether the hospital was up for sale.