NHS bosses were today accused of treating a Shropshire town’s hospital as “second class” after its operating theatre was shut down indefinitely.

Former Bridgnorth District Council leader Elizabeth Yeomans described the move to close the theatre at Bridgnorth Hospital for repairs before the work had been fully and officially costed was “scandalous”.

Initial estimates for the work were too expensive and so plans have gone back to the drawing board meaning further delays.

Local health chiefs today denied that the facility is to close permanently and vowed the surgical unit would be reopened as soon as possible.

But Mrs Yeomans, who is also a former member of the West Midlands Regional Health Authority, called on local people to fight to secure the future of acute medical care in the town after the unit was closed last week.

“People in this town have marched and fought for the operating theatre and the future of Bridgnorth Hospital,” she said.

“Not only is the decision to shut the theatre before it was necessary absolutely scandalous, but it puts extra pressure on services in neighbouring hospitals.

“I have tried not to be too alarmist but I have become very suspicious. The fact that someone made a decision to close this very valuable local facility without knowing how much the work would cost symbolises just what is wrong with the management culture of the NHS.

“Bridgnorth should not be treated as a second class hospital. If it was not safe or the theatre condemned we could understand why it was closed.”

Bosses at Shropshire Primary Care Trust have admitted they closed the theatre before they had finalised contracts for its refurbishment.

Mathew James, a spokesman for the PCT, said: “Bridgnorth theatre was closed in anticipation of receiving quotes for the refurbishment work. Those quotes proved to be substantially higher than anticipated, so work is under way now to see how the scheme can be brought back in line with budget.

“With hindsight, it would have been better if the temporary closure of the theatre had been delayed until the quotes had been received and reviewed. This has unfortunately extended the temporary closure, but patients will continue to be offered their operations at other nearby hospitals.”

By Brett Gibbons