AFTER years of campaigning, Thornbury Hospital could finally be set for a major upgrade.

A report has suggested demolishing the Henderson Ward to make way for a building with 44 beds for general patients and 30 for people needing full-time care.

This is a huge step-up from the 20 beds currently there and the extra six to eight suggested back in 2011, but local leaders are not entirely satisfied.

They are disappointed that Thornbury Health Centre has not been earmarked for an upgrade in the report.

Campaigners have long been calling for the redevelopment of the health centre in Eastland Road, but there is no mention of that in the report, which also includes plans for improvements at Frenchay Hospital.

The report on Thornbury Hospital was drawn up by a partnership of South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, South Gloucestershire Council, North Bristol NHS Trust and healthcare firm Sirona.

Cllr Toby Savage, chairman of SGC's health scrutiny committee, said: “Having been born and brought up in the Thornbury area, it’s been incredibly frustrating to witness a number of false dawns on the future of Thornbury Hospital and disappointingly little progress over the years.

“However, over recent months, there’s been a real sense of momentum for our campaign for better local health services.”

Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall added: “We needed to make progress, and I am delighted we will be having these additional beds here in Thornbury.”

The plans were discussed at a health scrutiny committee meeting yesterday, and there will be further work before a decision on whether to go ahead with the re-build is made  by the NHS and SGC in March next year.

Cllr. Savage told the Gazette: “We need to be constantly reviewing what the need for the site is, we need to meet the demand of the rapidly ageing and growing population.”

However, Thornbury town councillor Maggie Tyrell is disappointed that the health centre is not in the plans. 

"Improvements to the health centre are what the people of Thornbury really want,” she said.

Cllr Tyrell said that while the planned new beds at the hospital would be the "only beds of their kind in South Gloucestershire, it does not mean that people in Thornbury will be guaranteed priority."

“It isn’t a worthwhile improvement if the local people are not getting what was promised,” she added.

Cllr Shirley Holloway, chairman of the League of Friends of Thornbury Hospital, said: “It would be great if instead of knocking down the hospital and then working on the health centre, they chose to develop both together at the same time.

“But obviously we can’t hold up one development to wait for another.”