The Isle of Wight NHS Trusts's much-praised end of life care unit, Wellow Ward, is to be temporarily relocated during building work, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust has told the County Press.

In a statement, the Trust said it plans to find a long term home for what it called an excellent service, confirming a move is due to take place in the next few days.

According to paperwork considered by its board earlier this month, a relocation will support a change in the way St Mary's Hospital delivers elective and emergency surgery - known as ring fencing. 

It means Wellow will move to another part of St Mary's Hospital - the County Press has been told that might be within the stroke unit.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Nurse-led Wellow Ward opened with three beds in February 2020, initially for a 12 week pilot.

It was hailed as a 'really welcome addition to St Mary’s Hospital,' by the Trust's nursing director, Alice Webster.

By February 2022, Wellow Ward had cared for more than 720 patients, as well as providing support for their families.

In November, the unit was shortlisted at The Sun newspaper's Who Cares Wins awards for ‘Best NHS Team.’

A meeting of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust board, in May, heard Wellow staff praised for their care and compassion - helping put the Isle of Wight NHS Trust in the top 5 per cent for delivery of acute end of life care and around 40 per cent of hospital deaths are on the specialist unit. 

Concerns have been raised the ward is not always able to accommodate the wishes of patients and their relatives, due to its size and challenges over being able to double its capacity.

Reacting to rumours of its closure, one supporters of Wellow Ward said: "I cannot praise the Staff of Wellow high enough for their support and love at that very difficult time. To have a special unit for end of life care that is dedicated to the care of the patient gives them the dignity they need and the grieving family space and counselling."

Isle of Wight County Press:

Another told us they believed the planned relocation would mean no access to a private room and privacy.

A third said a relocation to a corner of the stroke unit was "almost as bad as closing it completely."

A relative of a Wellow Ward patient said: "Wellow Ward is brilliant where it is now, due to space for grieving families to grab a cuppa and chat, out of loved one's room, in a communal space where staff and also speak to you. On the stroke unit does not cut it at all."

'We understand how much it means'

In a statement to the County Press, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust said: "The care provided on Wellow Unit is among the best in the NHS and we understand how much it means to our colleagues, patients, and their loved ones.

"We are responding to significant, longstanding pressure in the wider hospital and working to use the limited space we have available as efficiently as possible."

Wellow Ward replaced Shackleton Ward, which cared for people with complex dementia needs over just a few months and following a £200,000 refurbishment.

The trust said at the time it did not have enough suitably experienced staff to care for patients on Shackleton Ward and its cloure saw some elderly and confused patients controversially transferred to mainland units for specialist care.