NHS confirms Frenchay to get community beds

The NHS has committed to provide new community beds on the Frenchay site when the existing hospital closes.

South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning group will build a 68-bed centre alongside a nursing home owned by the private sector.

Services provided at Frenchay are due to end when a new hospital opens in 2014 at Southmead, bringing together specialist teams from both sites.

Work on the new community services is not expected to begin until after 2014.

In a statement the South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said it had "reaffirmed its commitment to the development of community beds on the Frenchay site as part of a health and social care centre".

The news has been welcomed by the Save Frenchay Hospital Group.

"The future of Frenchay hospital is an incredibly important and emotive local issue and I'm encouraged by the local health bosses' response to our campaign," said John Godwin, former chairman of the group.