Sheffield Save Our NHS (SSONHS) are taking a firm stand against an extremely short-sighted decision that threatens to exacerbate our already understaffed healthcare sector. At least 80 tenants, including those who relocated to Rotherham to work at Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust as nursing staff, face eviction from three of Rotherham Hospital's on-site accommodation blocks (Derwent Court, Swale Court, and Loxley Court)!

The rationale for this course of action: The costs to update the 1970s-era buildings to modern fire safety standards are deemed as “unaffordable” by health bosses. No documentation or further information about how the buildings need to be updated, or what updates are required, have been released. 

In a letter slipped under the door to tenants the Trust's accommodation manager stated that all three sites would be “closed by the end of January 2025” as the accommodation was “no longer viable from a financial perspective”.

This decision not only affects the livelihood of these healthcare professionals but poses greater risks to the Trust's ability to hire future staff. The closure of these flats will undoubtedly impact the Trust's ability to recruit additional personnel necessary for maintaining quality healthcare service. The main guidance that the Trust has given tenants is to check spareroom.com, and in an article by  Jill Theobald in the Rotherham Advertiser a tenant reported “Many have chosen to bring their careers here – personally, I applied to do my training in Rotherham because of this accommodation.” which is a perfect representation of how having these accommodations help staff recruitment and retention.

Evicting these tenants, mostly medical staff, of their accommodations translates to a direct impact on patient treatment. Practitioners who require this accommodation are vital to the functional wellbeing of our healthcare system, from rotating Junior Doctors, to emergency staff accommodation, to attracting new colleagues. 

We implore you to support our medical staff – sign the petition today.

We demand that:

• Residents need the truth - publish the health and safety reports of Derwent Court, Swale Court, and Loxley Court are published to the tenants!
• Adequate funding for trusts to repair of onsite staff accommodation, from the government, where necessary.
• If the buildings are unsafe and irreparable, then provide safe and affordable alternative accommodation instead of evictions!

 
This petition will be presented to the NHS Trust Board in our campaign to retain and recruit staff to the Rotherham area.