Accrington Victoria Hospital: Council Statement
The Council have been informed that East Lancashire Hospitals Trust have made the decision that services will be moved out of Accrington Victoria Hospital due to safety risks associated with the building which are not able to be resolved.
We are deeply saddened and concerned by this decision. Accrington Victoria Hospital has been a vital asset for our residents for over 100 years and still provides many services.
We fully understand the community will be concerned as this hospital has been a cornerstone of our town since 1894, providing invaluable services and support to countless residents over the years.
Many of our Councillors have previously campaigned alongside residents to keep Accrington Victoria Hospital open during past threats of closure, recognising its critical role in our community. We want to assure residents that we have voiced our concerns to the leaders at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust. However, we have been informed that it is no longer safe to continue operating services from this building.
Whilst we will continue discussions with ELHT on the future of the building, our initial priority is to ensure that all services currently delivered from Accrington Victoria Hospital, including Minor Injuries, X-Ray, GP services, and others, remain within the town. We have received assurances from ELHT that these services will be swiftly transferred to other sites in Accrington and we will hold them to account on these assurances. Residents will still have access to a Minor Injuries Unit in Accrington, which we know is a vital service for our community.
Additionally, we are committed to working closely with ELHT to ensure that if Accrington Victoria Hospital cannot be reopened in its current form, that it is repurposed in a way that retains the proud history of the building and provides a service for the community.
The full announcement from East Lancashire Hospitals Trust can be found here https://elht.nhs.uk/news-and-media/news/services-will-move-out-accrington-victoria-community-hospital