Patient campaigners hijack unit opening

The opening of a unit at Shropshire’s orthopaedic hospital was hi-jacked by patients opposing the closure of a specialist rheumatoid arthritis ward.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson was at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, near Oswestry, yesterday to open a tumour unit - one of only five in the country.

But the invitation-only ceremony was interrupted by 15 patients from the hospital’s Ercall Ward. These included Emma Suddaby, who spoke of patients’ fears for future services.

The patients, all rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, say they will lose the specialist inpatient care the ward provides when it is closed. A hastily arranged meeting was held between patients and trust bosses who reassured the protesters that their care would remain at its current high level.

After the meeting, hospital chief executive Wendy Farrington-Chadd said the changes would see the physical closure of Ercall Ward but added that it was planned to use it as an outpatient day care service for rheumatoid sufferers.

The tumour unit will play a key role in the treatment of bone cancer and was developed through a partnership between the hospital, Macmillan Support and the League of Friends.