The Community Interest Company founded to lead the effort to secure the future of the Royston Hospital site - by transforming it into a health and social care hub - is to close.
The aim of Royston Community Health, the not-for-profit social enterprise, was to future-proof the hospital - which had its bed removed in 2012 and operates some services such as physiotherapy and a diabetic eye clinic.
RCH wanted to see the hospital become an environmentally-friendly integrated hub for two GP surgeries – as well as services including district nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and an integrated care home. Current directors of the CIC are Maggie Allen, Philip Franks and Dr John Hedges - Bob Smith and Dr Chrissie Pepper had been directors previously.
In saving the hospital site for future use, Royston Community Health's work was to "ensure everyone in Royston and the surrounding area has the best chances of optimal health and wellbeing throughout their lives, supported by local NHS facilities".
Though huge effort was put in by campaigners and strides were made including meeting then health secretary Jeremy Hunt at Westminster in 2017, the decision has now been made to close the CIC.
In a statement, RCH said: "It is with regret that the directors of Royston Community Health CIC have decided to close the Community Interest Company as from the end of May 2021.
"We have tried to achieve a health and social care hub for the town and area over the last seven years and many of you have supported us, signed petitions and followed our progress.
"Unfortunately, the multiplicity of stakeholders has proved too complex to allow a co-ordinated plan - with full commitment from key players - to progress effectively.
"We would like to thank all those local companies and people who have supported us financially and with their time and expertise over the years and particularly UHY Hacker Young, MP Sir Oliver Heald and councillors Fiona Hill and Tony Hunter for their unstinting support.
"We hope that one day the ideas we have proposed might be reconsidered."
Maggie Allen further added: "The size and complexity of the NHS means it’s impossible to move any plans along at speed.
"We took the issue to Jeremy Hunt in 2017 when he was Secretary of State for Health but he had little say over how the local NHS should proceed, although he did write in support of us.
"We worked with the NHS to get plans drawn up - which they paid for - but ultimately that went no further."
"It is possible that another group could take on the task at a point in the future when they are more likely to succeed."
MP Sir Oliver Heald and councillors Hill and Hunter have pledged to continue to push for RCH's vision to become reality.
North East Herts MP Sir Oliver told the Crow: "Maggie Allen and the other leaders of the CIC including Peter Franks and Dr Hedges have worked extremely hard and have laid out a credible case for an NHS hub and for the future of Royston Hospital site, which already hosts many NHS outpatient clinics.
"Councillors Tony Hunter and Fiona Hill have shown stalwart support over a number of years and we have had petitions, consultations, meetings with the health secretary, questions in parliament and discussions with many NHS officials to make the case.
"The next step is to persuade NHS commissioners to fund plans for the NHS hub and make it happen. I will continue to press the case and I know councillors will too.
"I congratulate Maggie and her colleagues for their outstanding work and for setting out their vision. This is the end of an important chapter, but the story still needs a happy ending."
Councillor Hill said: "It is extremely sad and disappointing to hear of the closure of the CIC.
"The directors have worked tirelessly with stakeholders to try and make their vision a reality. I have been delighted to wholeheartedly support them and fully appreciate their work and commitment over many years.
"In my position as county councillor, I will continue to lobby for the integrated health and social care provision we need and the ultimate ambition for a health hub in Royston”.
Councillor Hunter agreed the closure was sad and disappointing.
He added: "We can but hope the NHS will see the sense of a health hub in Royston for integrated health and social care."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here