Fowey campaign to save hospital from closure
Campaigners want the site to remain in the community and be used as a healthcare provision
A meeting has been held in Fowey as residents call for their community hospital to be reopened.
The NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board plans to sell the hospital after it was closed temporarily in 2016.
People living there and in surrounding areas say they want the site to remain in the community and be used as a healthcare provision.
Rob Rooney, one of three people who organised a public meeting on 11 March, said:
"It's stood since 1914 in the area. Fowey Hospital has roots in the community, people have been born there, people have died there, many people have worked there and raised money for the hospital.
"The people of Fowey and surrounding areas, particularly Polruan and Bodinnick, which are isolated communities on the other side of the river, depended on great extent on the hospital and will fight to keep this resource going."
Noah Law, MP for St Austell and Newquay, added:
"It's been a real asset to the community, around 100 years it's been in existent and used for healthcare.
"People want to see this remain in community hands and I will support the community in Fowey as best I can to make sure that we can keep hold of this much loved site without it being sold off to the highest bidder."
The Fowey Community Hospital site was temporarily closed in 2016 and no services have operated from the site since. A spokesperson from the ICB says it is in an increasingly poor state of repair and wearing of personal protective equipment is recommended to enter the site, and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB is incurring costs relating to the empty building.
A decision on the future of the site is required to mitigate the risks associated with further deterioration of the structure, escalating safety hazards and compounding financial liabilities.
The CIOSICB May 2025 board meeting will consider the outcome of the engagement feedback combined with and informed by feedback from the 12 March to make a decision about the future of the hospital.
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