New lease of life for Castleberg Hospital

Date: 14 October 2019

A Craven-based community hospital has re-opened its doors to patients.

Following a major programme of repair and refurbishment, the first patients were welcomed by staff at Castleberg Hospital on Monday 7 October.

The hospital provides bed-based intermediate care – often called ‘step-up and step-down’ care – for 10 people.  This involves short periods of assessment and rehabilitation designed to enable them to return home.  It also provides short-term nursing care, pain relief and support for some people as they near the end of their life.

Newly refurbished accommodation within the hospital includes two four-bedded wards, two single rooms, and family, therapy, treatment and day rooms.  Externally, the hospital has been re-roofed and has new drainage and electricity generator.  A new external ramp to the main entrance helps people with disabilities to access the hospital.

The experienced nursing, therapy and domestic services teams providing care and support at the hospital include an equal mix of new and returning staff.  They will continue the hospital’s long-held tradition of providing a high-quality, friendly and caring service for people living in Craven.

Brendan Brown, chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I joined Airedale last year and was immediately impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of our communities in bringing Castleberg back to life.  The refurbishment is part of our wider programme of regeneration to offer our communities the best possible healthcare in facilities that are fit for the future.”

Dr James Thomas, clinical chair of NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “During the consultation, we heard how very important and integral Castleberg Hospital is to the range of services that the NHS offers to people living in isolated rural communities, and to their families and carers.  We are delighted that the hospital and its staff are once again able to provide care for people who need that extra help and support to recover from, or manage, their illness.”

Mike Dyson, NHS Property Service’s principal construction manager, said: “A key part of the success has been our partnership with the Trust and CCG. Throughout the process, from start to finish, working together as a team has delivered high-quality renovation works at Castleberg Hospital.”

The hospital’s future was the subject of widespread consultation in 2018, when many local people, groups and organisations got involved to tell the NHS their views.

NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven CCG subsequently approved plans to re-open the hospital, subject to major work to repair the building to return it to the expected standards to support healthcare provision.

An official opening for the hospital is being planned.

Photo captions:

(1)       Castleberg 1 – exterior

(2)       Castleberg 2 – single room

(3)       Castleberg 3 – male ward

(4)       Castleberg 4 – female ward

(5)       Castleberg 5 – rehabilitation room

(6)       Castleberg 6 – day and dining room

(7) Services at Castleberg Hospital are run by Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, and commissioned by NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven CCG.  The owner of the building and grounds is NHS Property Services Ltd.

For more information, please contact:

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust communications:                    01535 294541

Airedale, Wharfedale & Craven CCG communications:          01274 237546

NHS Property Services communications:                                   0800 085 3015

Communications team

Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven, Bradford City and Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)

Scorex House (West) l 1, Bolton Road l Bradford l BD1 4AS

E: communications@bradford.nhs.uk