A new £10 million health village is being proposed at the Ludlow Hospital site by campaigners who are hoping to secure its long term future.

The Ludlow Hospital League of Friends last night unveiled its ambitious proposal for the one-stop health centre, which would be run by a charitable trust.

The complex would incorporate both of the town’s two GP practices, a new maternity unit and a new ward for elderly and mentally infirm patients, to replace the recently closed Whitcliffe Ward.

There would also be more diagnostic facilities, respite care, palliative care, and a revamped minor injuries unit, which would call on the expertise of doctors based at the site.

Peter Corfield, the chairman of Ludlow Hospital League of Friends, unveiled the vision before scores of residents at a meeting at St Peter’s Church Hall.

He said: “I think we are looking at a good £10 million if we want to develop this. We want a one-stop health care village. It would provide a complete care package.”

Mr Corfield said the health village would have to generate revenue by providing services for both the private sector and the NHS.

Mr Corfield added: “We would have to make sure it was flexible and responsive to changes in demand. The services we require five years from now may be different to the ones required today.

“Our vision is that the two existing general wards at the hospital, Clee and Stretton wards, also require a lot of investment to bring them up to a reasonable standard.”

The charitable trust would would be in charge of the day-to-day running and answer to the primary care trust.