By Sarah Newstead

Last updated 05:36, Friday, 05 September 2008

COMMUNITY health provision in Wigton is moving forward in preparation for the planned ‘healthcare village’ in the town.

Eveline Dugdale: ‘Making sure what we’ve fought for is realised’

Wigton Hospital is adding to its 17 existing clinics with a new one to help diagnose prostate cancer, launching this month.

Eveline Dugdale, chairwoman of the League of Friends of Wigton Hospital, said: “It’s about making the hospital we have viable now so we can move everything into the new building.”

Cumbria County Council is planning to replace Inglewood Residential Home with a larger, state-of-the-art facility next to the hospital or on an alternative site nearby.

Under the proposals the home would form the centrepiece of a ‘health village’, offering respite support, GP and other community services, all in the same place.

The field behind the Lowmoor Road home has been rumoured, but officials are keen to stress all plans are in their infancy.

Mrs Dugdale added: “We are looking at about five years before we could occupy a new building. Now it’s about persevering to make sure what we’ve fought for is realised for the local people.”

Local consultations on the plans were completed in April and a report on the findings is expected later this year.

Funding options are being explored for the wider £80m scheme which could also see new care homes built in Keswick, Millom, Brampton, Penrith and Alston.

The plans build upon Cumbria Primary Care Trust’s Closer to Home improvement programme which supports the creation of new residential care facilities on or near community hospital sites.