COMMUNITY rehabilitation services are changing on the Isle of Wight.

New arrangements — set to come into force from July 1 — will see the service split between three sites, instead of the current seven.

St Mary's Hospital, Newport, will no longer have a community rehabilitation unit, but the Isle of Wight NHS Trust will provide community rehabilitation in nursing homes and patients' own homes.

The 'bedded' elements of the new contract will be delivered in three nursing homes under one provider — Hartford Care.

The IW Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) believe the new arrangements will "significantly improve the care people receive."

It said the 'bedded' element and recovery services were only a small part of the service and the majority of people received care in their own homes.

Acute rehabilitation services will continue to be provided at the hospital.

The community rehabilitation unit at St Mary’s has not been used since October 2017. During the winter, it was used to provide extra capacity.

Matt Smith, from Cowes, used the community rehabilitation unit at St Mary's in 2013. He said there was a need to improve rehabilitation services on the Island.

He said: "I think they should build a purpose built rehabilitation unit with a hydrotherapy pool, which would help aid recovery.

"There is a need for better equipment and more staff, and better training."

Jonathan Smith, assistant director of integrated commissioning, said: “We started looking at our community rehabilitation and recovery service more than a year ago, and talked it through with patients, carers, clinical teams, GPs and nursing home staff.

"We believe we are now moving to a system which is in line with the very best services from elsewhere in the country, and which will significantly improve the care people receive.

“The new service will increase both the amount, and the quality, of support that patients receive from nursing and therapy staff, and that support will be around the clock.

"Bringing the recovery services together into three centres instead of seven will really transform the way that health and care teams can work together for the benefit of their patients.

"We fully expect to see recovery times reducing as a direct result of this change."

A spokesperson for Hartford Care, which runs Highfield Nursing Home, Springfield Nursing Home and The Elms, said: "Each of our nursing homes is led by an experienced home manager and team that represent the respectful and empathetic approach of Hartford Care, while addressing the needs of each individual person.

"Those who come to stay with us to recuperate will continue to benefit from the comprehensive care, comfort and companionship that underpins the Hartford Care ethos, and we are proud to be able to play a part in each person’s recovery."

Updated: Compton Ward at St Mary’s Hospital looks set to close in early July.

The ward has been operating as a general medical ward to help the hospital cope with increased pressure over the winter period — particularly elderly people with respiratory conditions.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust said improved weather meant less medical patients were using the ward, so it is expected to close early next month.

Patients will be admitted or transferred to other medical wards. Staff will be redeployed to other areas.

A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust said:  “In the past, Compton has been used for rehabilitation care but this service has been steadily reduced at St Mary’s as services in the community have been increased as part of Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Groups strategy for rehabilitation services.

“Increasingly care is being provided close to and in patient’s homes.”