North Anglia NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Hannah Coffey and senior colleagues gave the assurance at a meeting with county councillors. The trust also confirmed that the hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit would stay open.
The meeting was arranged by Cllr Michael Fisher, the county councillor for Whittlesey South, the division in which the hospital is located.
He was joined by councillors Howard Tobias, Daniel Divine and Colin Galbraith, plus Chris Tirrell, who stood in for Chris Thornhill.
Hannah Coffey, chief executive of the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. (Image: Steve Barclay/NWANHSFT)
The talks followed growing concern among residents that services at Doddington Hospital were being reduced, an issue also raised by MP Steve Barclay in recent months.
Councillors were briefed on the hospital’s future and the NHS shift towards community-based care.
The trust said more care was being delivered through community services, specialists, virtual and telephone consultations, and services closer to home.
The trust acknowledged that Doddington Hospital had lost services over time, but said there was no single decision or planned programme behind the changes.
It blamed individual operational decisions, staff shortages and changing clinical arrangements.
It is reviewing services that could be introduced or restored, including paediatrics, geriatric medicine, neurology, urology, general surgery and respiratory care.
Cllr Fisher called the meeting a “detailed and factual briefing” on the hospital.
He said: “There has understandably been a perception locally that the hospital is gradually being run down because residents have seen some familiar services reduced or withdrawn.
“What we heard today was a much more complex picture. The way healthcare is being delivered is changing, and that means the face of some services at Doddington will look different from what residents have been used to.
“That does not mean the hospital is being closed or that the trust is planning to withdraw services from the site. Indeed, we were clearly told that there are no such plans.
“I was also particularly pleased to have confirmation that the Minor Injuries Unit will continue. I know that has been a significant concern for many local residents.”
Councillors also challenged the trust over its earlier service changes.
The trust said some changes were made to deal with staffing and service pressures, not as part of a planned overhaul.
Cllr Divine said the meeting clarified what had happened and why, but showed why representatives must be involved early in major changes.
The trust said it had tightened its checks on future changes, including impact assessments, a Clinical Strategy Board and a decision-making framework introduced in May 2025.
The trust will consider how to involve county, district, town and parish councillors more widely before bringing back proposals.
Cllr Fisher called the meeting a positive start but said scrutiny of the hospital would continue.
He said: “There are still important questions around individual services, future decisions and how local communities are involved when changes are proposed.
“What today’s meeting has done is establish a much better foundation from which to continue that conversation.”
The councillors said they would keep monitoring Doddington Hospital and await the trust’s plans for wider engagement with elected representatives.
Earlier concerns included dermatology services being moved to GP surgeries and audiology being paused, while MP Steve Barclay also sought patient numbers by service.