CAMPAIGNERS believe a development on the edge of Bicester offers the “golden opportunity” to provide more hospital beds for the ever-growing town.

The group that successfully helped bring about the town’s new community hospital is calling for further in-patient facilities to be built at Kingsmere Village.

The site currently has outline planning permission for a health village but a decision on what this will include and when it will be built is yet to be made.

Bicester Town Councillor Les Sibley and fellow Save Our Community Hospital (SOCH) campaigners say the 12-bed community hospital is already swamped and more facilities are needed in light of Bicester’s upcoming developments such as the eco-town and Graven Hill.

Mr Sibley said: “The Kingsmere development offers a golden opportunity and has planning permission for a health village that includes provision for a new enlarged community hospital, GP surgery and a care home.

“It’s good news that after a long and successful campaign the new 12-bed replacement hospital is now operational.

“However, 12-beds are not enough for the town’s ever-increasing population.”

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust spokesman Alistair Duncan confirmed the community hospital’s 12 beds had 99 per cent recurring occupancy.

The figures come after just six months caring for patients, although the official opening of Bicester Community Hospital was held on July 1.

Managing director of strategic land at Countryside [Kingsmere lead developers] Andrew Carrington said: “We are working with the council to explore the best use for the site, including alternative healthcare facilities.”

SOCH campaigner John Broad, from Langford Village, said: “When you think of the future it [the community hospital] is just not going to cope.

“When they tried to find land originally we put forward Kingsmere with land in the planning application for a health village and that planning permission is still in place.

“It is still a good opportunity and it is important to build for the future.”