EXCITING plans for new health and social care services in the Berkeley Vale area have been given the backing of NHS Gloucestershire board members.

The NHS is continuing to work with the local community to develop a new modern health and social care campus in the Dursley area to replace the existing hospital in Berkeley and the Sandpits Clinic in Dursley.

NHS Gloucestershire has not yet decided on the final location of the health centre - they are currently looking at four possible sites – however they have said it will be close to the centre of Dursley while offering good accessibility from nearby towns.

Chief Executive of NHS Gloucestershire, Jan Stubbings said: "This is an exciting project which aims to provide care and treatment in the best possible environment for the patient and in the right way to meet their individual needs."

The campus will provide 20 beds in individual rooms for medical care and rehabilitation, an extended range of outpatient clinics, a range of community therapy services, a quality local minor injuries and illness service and a range of diagnostic services such as X-ray.

In addition to bed based care within the new facility, community teams of health and social care staff will work jointly to support people in their own homes.

Cam GP, Dr Martin Freeman said: "There has been significant discussion with a range of agencies to consider carefully where services are best located to make sure the scope and type of health and care services available within the new building and the community are right for the future."