Fleetwood Hospital building offered for use during coronavirus outbreak

The former NHS building, on the corner of Pharos Street and North Albert Street, was bought by charity the Fleetwood Trust for £575,000 in November 2018 and has already been extensively renovated.

The Trust, which includes individuals and church representatives from the town, is aimed at alleviating social isolation and poverty and intends to use much of the building as a vibrant social hub, while retaining some outpatient services.

But with the outbreak of the coronavirus and the disease Covid-19, Fleetwood Trust has offered its services in any capacity, including the possibility of using it as an operational hospital.

The Trust has approached the Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) with the offer, although there is no confirmation at this stage that the offer will be taken up.

The CCG says it is grateful for the offer and is considering all options.

By Monday night there were 18 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Blackpool and 278 in the council area of Lancashire, which includes Wyre and Fylde.

There have as yet been no official figures for Fleetwood.

.Lord Tom McNally, chairman of the Fleetwood Trust said, “We have approached the CCG to offer the building for the most appropriate use in the weeks and months ahead.

"NHS is doing amazing work to keep us safe and well, and all aspects of the emergency are changing so rapidly so we do not know how the building might be used but it is right to make the offer.

"We are in contact with the CCG and will work closely with them when the best option is clear.

"The Trust have also had discussions with the local authorities, agencies and community leaders to look at other options but again it’s important we agree the best for the longer term and to support as many residents as possible.”

Fellow trustee Dr Mark Spencer, who is working with his NHS colleagues from Mount View surgery, said “The immediate thought might be to use the building as an

operational hospital but the current condition of the interior may make this impractical.

"Plans to use the space within the existing Outpatients facility are already underway and in the meantime we can look at the options for the rest of the

building.

"It’s important that we don’t speculate on what that might be yet until the we know the most urgent requirement.”

Dr Ben Butler-Reid, clinical director for NHS Blackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre CCGs, said: “As the situation develops we are considering all options to provide the most appropriate care to patients both with and without symptoms of COVID-19.

“We thank The Fleetwood Trust for their offer and we will keep Fleetwood Hospital in mind as we make decisions going forward.”

Lord McNally added, “Our long-term aim for the Fleetwood hospital building hasn’t changed.

"We will create a vibrant and sustainable hub to host much-needed services and support for the residents of Fleetwood.

"In ordinary times we would have been sharing our progress towards this but these are extraordinary times and the

Fleetwood Trust will support the community to come through this together.”