All Saints Action Network (ASAN) was established by local residents following the formal closure of the Royal Hospital.

Living next to a large hospital, for many residents had a number of positive and negative impacts. Whilst its visitors generated traffic, residents benefited from having local shops which were used by thousands of people each week, making jobs available.

In 1997 when the hospital closed, almost overnight, jobs and custom for local shops disappeared and All Saints was left with a large empty and derelict site which felt unsafe at night. The empty buildings soon attracted crime, vandalism and worst of all arson.

Nevertheless the people of All Saints regarded it as their local hospital and establishing ASAN was their way of trying to fight back and regenerate All Saints.

Since 1997 ASAN has consulted local people each year through our community events and festivals. We are told that the Royal Hospital remains key to community pride and the desire to see it restored to it’s position as the key landmark in All Saints remains paramount.

We are pleased that after 27 years of dereliction and decay the Royal Hospital will be restored and opened in 2024 as a wellbeing scheme for the over 55s, with 38 one and two bedroom apartments. It’s new name upon opening will be Nightingale House to reflect the former nurses block and nursing school, which were key elements of the Royal Hospital