MP Philip Dunne calls for a halt on plan to consolidate inpatient beds at Ludlow Hospital

From Friday, 31 July, the Trust will bring all inpatient beds at Ludlow Hospital onto one clinical area on the ground floor.

Andy Rogers, spokesman for the Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, said: "At the moment we have Dinham Ward on the ground floor, which has 12 beds catering for female patients. On the first floor we have Stretton Ward, which has 12 beds that cater for male patients. At the end of this week we are planning to bring our inpatient beds onto one clinical area that is at ground level, which will be arranged into two separate parts to ensure our patients are still being cared for in a single sex environment."

Phillip Dunne, MP for Ludlow said: "I was as surprised as any to learn of the Trust's decision to consolidate in patient wards in Ludlow, and to do so without wider consultation.

“I have contacted Shropshire Community Health Trust leaders to request an immediate halt to this decision to allow for a formal consultation.

“Given the history of the Trust’s approach to Ludlow Hospital in recent years, it is vital that the public should be given an opportunity to understand the facts about bed occupancy and staffing levels before any precipitate decisions as dramatic as this proposed ward closure are taken.

“This is particularly the case where some GPs who provide clinical support to the community hospital also appear opposed to this move.

“I am in the midst of fighting to secure an upgrade of the Minor Injuries Unit at Ludlow Hospital to an Urgent Care Centre as part of the Future Fit exercise for the county's emergency care provision.

“I am worried that this latest sudden action by Shropshire Community Health Trust is being proposed without being properly integrated with the emerging Future Fit proposals. I also have real concerns at the potential loss of in patient capacity, apparent loss of the dementia bay, apparent re-introduction of a mixed-sex ward‎ contrary to NHS policy. More information is required to understand how these issues will be addressed.

“For all these reasons, I am calling on Shropshire Community Health Trust to decide at its board meeting this Friday to stop the closure, to retain the existing wards and undertake a formal consultation on its plans to see if they stand up to public scrutiny."