Residents in a town have said they are "loathe to lose" their hospital services.

A consultation survey considered set out to discover the best way for Wantage Community Hospital to "meet the needs of the local population".

Responses were discussed at a Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday this week.

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The consultation report was independently written following an engagement period that ran from October 11 to November 6.

One of the key points noted was people wanted existing clinic based services to remain and were "loath to lose them".

This is Oxfordshire: Councillor Jane Hanna OBE, of the Grove & Wantage division, has been central in efforts to continue expanding healthcare provision in the town.Councillor Jane Hanna OBE, of the Grove & Wantage division, has been central in efforts to continue expanding healthcare provision in the town. (Image: Ed Nix.)

Keenness on the provision of local services was reflected particularly in one response which referenced caring for an elderly relative, stating: "It's so much easier than having to go to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford which takes 90 minutes on the bus.

"It works very well.

"We used to go up to the JR and as you can imagine she’s blind and very frail and for me it’s an everyday trip but for her it’s a trek and she’s frightened of people bumping into her and you have the parking etc, so it’s a godsend having it here.

“Do not do away with the clinics now that they’re there."

Another person caring for a visually impaired relative said on taking them to the John Radcliffe Hospital: “It isn’t just that it’s a long drive, but there are parking problems there too as there aren’t enough Blue Badge spaces.

"So it’s very traumatic.”

Many questioned the need for a GP clinic at Wantage Community Hospital though it was "nice to have" and some questioned why support for mental health was offered on-site.

A respondent commented: "You can do that out of an office block."

There was a feeling that it was "better to do small number of things well."

This is Oxfordshire: Councillor Jenny Hannaby, of the Grove & Wantage Ward, has also played a key part in efforts to expand hospital provision.Councillor Jenny Hannaby, of the Grove & Wantage Ward, has also played a key part in efforts to expand hospital provision. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)

Feelings were apparently not as strong on the topic of inpatient beds, with the consensus being that many of these services could be provided regionally rather than locally.

The survey commissioner noted "jargon" was an issue in reference to discussions and comments on unplanned care as well as a "lack of public understanding and 'incorrect' use of clinical terms".

Wantage is a market town in south Oxfordshire where just over 33,000 residents are registered at local general practices.

The inpatients ward of the town's community hospital ward has been temporarily closed for almost eight years but a partnership project has been established to consider the "right mix of services" for the future.

A majority of questionnaire respondents were women and over 60.