The Future Use of Fothergill Ward | East London NHS Foundation Trust

Coming Home After a Hospital Admission

When someone is ready to be discharged home from hospital, it can be a worrying time. They may have got used to having ward staff on hand in hospital. And wonder how they will cope at home with meals, washing, dressing, housework and other tasks.

Supporting you at Home

Health services in Newham understand these concerns and have developed four discharge pathways which aim to support people coming out of hospital whatever stage they are at in their recovery. Depending on the level of need, home care staff can visit several times a day to help someone settle back and return to their usual activities. These support packages may be short-term, to aid recovery and regain independence, or longer-term where required.

Additionally, all End of Life care now takes place either at home supported by community services and our End of Life care teams, or in a nursing home or hospice.

Home-First Approach

Currently, one of these discharge pathways includes the option of admission to Fothergill Ward at East Ham Care Centre. However, the need for this ward has reduced over time, as improvements in community-based support and care packages enable more patients to return directly home following hospital treatment.

Building Confidence and Independence

Research shows that individuals recover more effectively when discharged to their usual place of residence with appropriate care and support in place. This approach promotes independence and enables people to reconnect with their local support networks, including family, friends and neighbours.

This home-first model aligns with the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, which emphasises a shift from hospital-based care to community-based care. The Trust has been working closely with partners in Newham and Tower Hamlets to strengthen discharge planning and ensure a smooth and seamless transition from hospital to home.

Fothergill Ward Staff Consultation

A formal staff consultation is currently underway, and no final decision will be made until the consultation has concluded on 24 August 2026 and the feedback has been fully considered. The purpose of the consultation is to seek views on the proposal to close Fothergill Ward and re-provide care pathways in a community setting. The consultation will inform the final decision, with 28 September 2026 remaining the indicative implementation date should the proposal be approved.

We are keen to retain our skilled staff and offer redeployment opportunities into new roles within our community discharge pathways, across the Trust, partner organisations, and the wider NHS.

See our Q&As below for further information

If you want further information or ask a question, contact elft.communications@nhs.net.

Where is Fothergill Ward?

Fothergill Ward is an intermediate care ward based at East Ham Care Centre, Newham, with 26 beds, of which 20 have been operational in recent months. It provides short-term, multidisciplinary and nursing support designed to help people recover and regain independence after a hospital stay

What is the rationale for considering the closure of Fothergill Ward?

In recent years, there has been investment and expansion in community services and interventions to provide more intensive support to people in their own home.

Research indicates that it is better for an individual’s recovery for them to be discharged straight to their place of residence with a support and care package in place.

Establishing someone in their own home promotes independence, decreases preventable hospital admission, and enables local support networks (family, friends and neighbours) to play a part once again in their life.

Can’t Fothergill Ward continue to be part of the discharge care pathway?

We don’t need Fothergill Ward in the way we used to. With the development of community care pathways, we are more focused on getting people straight home following a hospital admission as this is better for their recovery. We want to provide more services in this way rather than have people in hospital.

The 10 Year Health Plan for England emphasises the need to move care from hospital settings to community care, so this approach is in line with government policy.

Will the clinical interventions that have been available on Fothergill Ward be available to people in their own homes?

Yes. All care options that have been available on Fothergill Ward, such as wound care and other nursing interventions, are already provided at home or care/nursing home residents.

What are the arrangements for people who need End of Life care?

All End of Life care now takes place either at home supported by community services and our End of Life Care teams, or in a nursing home or hospice.

What will happen to the ward space?

A number of uses for the ward are being explored by North East London ICB who commission health and social care services for the region.

Is there a risk that the ward could close and not be opened again?

No. There are a number of uses for the ward being explored.

What will happen to patients who might otherwise have been admitted to Fothergill Ward from hospital?

Going forward, the plan will be to discharge such patients straight from hospital to their place of residence with a comprehensive support package to meet their needs. We are already seeing fewer patients coming to Fothergill Ward. This approach is in line with government policy set out in the 10 Year Health Plan

Is this change simply to save money?

There will be savings made, but this proposal aims to make better use of our funds and support patients to get home sooner, with the right care. Fothergill Ward provides nursing care for patients with clinical needs, and this proposal is about ensuring people receive the right care, in the right setting, at the right time.

Are staff at risk of losing their jobs?

We hope to be able to redeploy the majority of our staff either in roles within the Trust as we further develop our discharge pathways, or other roles. Partner organisations are making their vacancies known to us at an early stage so that interested colleagues can apply for these.

We are in consultation with colleagues from Fothergill Ward and will meet with each individual to look at the options.