A COMMUNITY engagement event on the future of Heatherwood Hospital began yesterday (Thursday) and continues today.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the London Road site, is holding the event at Ascot Racecourse to talk about the planned £72m investment of the hospital, and runs between 10am and noon today.

Key members of the hospital team have been talking about the scheme during the drop-in event, walking visitors through the current plans and listening to ideas about making best use of the development opportunity.

Land at the site will be sold off to fund a demolition and rebuild of the ageing facility, which is now controlled by the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.

But plans, confirmed by Frimley Park chief executive Andrew Morris at a meeting of Slough Borough Council’s health scrutiny panel on March 21, are in the early stages, so full details are not yet clear.

The proposal also puts forward building a £50m A&E department and £10m maternity unit at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough.

Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals merged with the Frimley Trust in October 2014 after both were placed in ‘special measures’ by the CQC in 2014, but have since been rated ‘good’.

Frimley health director of HR and corporate services Janet King said: “We have been keen for people to see our latest ideas for this great development.

“Heatherwood and the services it provides are important to the local community and we have one chance to secure a long-term future.

“We want to make sure that people understand where we are heading and why, and to listen to what is important as we develop the plan in greater detail.”

Information will also be available on the Frimley Health website, www.fhft.nhs.uk.

The future of Heatherwood Hospital has often seemed unclear after the decision was made to permanently close the birthing unit and the hospital’s stroke rehabilitation ward in 2013.

The decision to close the maternity unit was met with protests and a 3,300 signature petition against the closure, while there was also opposition to the decision to close the minor injuries unit in April 2014 and transfer all services to Bracknell’s Urgent Care Centre at Brants Bridge.

In total, the redevelopment of Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals will cost around £130m.