Firvale centre: Hampshire Hospital's services are 'unaffected'

Firvale Residential Respite was temporarily closed at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, and earlier this year Hampshire County Council carried a consultation on plans to shut the centre for good.

The authority said that around £400,000 of essential build works would be needed to ensure the unit remains safe and fit for purpose. This is in addition to the annual cost of operating the service, which amounts to around £900,000.  

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In October, Cllr Roz Chadd, the county council's deputy leader and executive lead member for children’s services, concluded that the centre should be permanently closed.

The unit is jointly operated with Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT). Of the nine beds available, five were used for social care provision by the county council while HHFT accesses the other four for health needs.  

The Gazette asked Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust whether its service would be impacted.

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A trust spokesperson said: “The health services run by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for children at Firvale are unaffected by Hampshire County Council’s decision to close social care provision at the Residential Respite Unit.

“NHS staff will continue to provide expert care and support to children and their families, and are planning ahead as we develop and improve our services for children and young people. At Hampshire Hospitals we are working with other health and care providers to understand the best way we can provide care, and remain totally committed to providing outstanding care to children in our community both now and in the future.”

The Gazette also asked the trust whether HHFT it will complete the work needed to make the building fit for purpose but it declined to comment.