HEALTH officials hard at work refurbishing a closed ward at Witney Community Hospital have said they are still confident the 30 beds will be up and running by next spring despite doubts from some in the community.

The community hospital’s Wenrisc ward is exactly halfway through its period of temporary closure, with plans to reopen on March 31, 2016.

The ward was closed by the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust at the beginning of September so it could undergo a full refurbishment, but to also save £600,000.

Spokesman for Oxford Health Alistair Duncan explained the work that had been completed so far, now that the closure period had reached the half-way point.

He said: “We have now completed a new kitchen for Linfoot ward and completely redecorated the ward as well.

“We are continuing to refurbish Wenrisc ward with plans to swap around our gym and day room, leading to a larger and more flexible day room.”

On closing the ward back in September, members of Oxford Health said it would open 24 beds at other community hospitals in the meantime.

They confirmed at the beginning of this week that they had managed to open 18 beds in Linfoot ward, the other ward at Witney Community Hospital, and at Abingdon, Didcot and Wantage.

But Oxfordshire joint health overview and scrutiny committee member Laura Price, from Witney, said it was “a concern” that not all the beds had been opened.

She said: “I do think we are going into winter not at full capacity which is a worry, especially for our community hospitals.”

Mr Duncan added that it was hoped all staff from Wenrisc ward who were temporarily redeployed to other hospitals would want to return to Wenrisc ward when it opens.

He said: “For any staff who choose to apply for jobs elsewhere within the trust, including within the teams to which they have been temporarily redeployed, this will be their choice .”

Mayor of Witney Jim King was originally sceptical that the ward would ever reopen but now says he is feeling more hopeful.

He said: “I’m disappointed they didn’t meet their target of opening 24 beds, but as far as I’m concerned, if they are 100 per cent honest in what they have said, then that’s great.

“If they are spending the money then they should be re-opening. They wouldn’t just do the work and leave it closed.

“Providing they do what they have said then I will be ever so pleased.”