A MAJOR upgrade at Thornbury Hospital which would include 80 new beds could be complete by the end of 2019, according to a new report.

An increase on the previously suggested 74 beds, there would be 44 NHS rehabilitation beds and 36 mixed use care beds in a new building that would replace the Henderson Ward.

This “best case scenario” comes from a report drawn up by a partnership including the doctor-led South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, South Gloucestershire Council, North Bristol NHS Trust and Sirona Care.

The report outlines a timetable for the hospital to re-open in autumn 2019, with the same number of beds destined for Frenchay Hospital in autumn 2018.

Building designs and site layouts have also been published for both sites.

There would also be 63 extra care home units on each hospital site.

Cllr Toby Savage, chairman of South Gloucestershire Council’s health scrutiny committee, said: “I’m really encouraged that our campaign has reached this latest milestone and that we now have a published timeline and plans showing the earliest date that we can expect these fantastic new bed facilities to be open.

“It’s great that there could be as many as 80 NHS and care beds along with 63 extra care housing units at Thornbury – if someone had said that a year ago, no-one would have believed it.

“Having grown up with the existing Thornbury Hospital, we have to learn the lessons from all the false dawns that the Thornbury site has had over the years and so it’s important to stress that there are still a number of stages that all four of these organisations need to work jointly towards before any diggers move on site.”

Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall said: “I am delighted that the plans are now coming together with such energy.

“There is now a timeline for the community hospital but I will be doing everything I can to help ensure that hopes for the Thornbury Health Centre are realised too.”

There was disappointment from some, however, that the report did not include plans for the future of the health centre.

Cllr Shirley Holloway, chairman of the League of Friends of Thornbury Hospital, said: “The present building is too small, has a leaking roof and no disabled access to the first floor and there are major problems regarding appointments.”