Clash over bed numbers in Ludlow Hospital row

Supporters of Ludlow Hospital believe up to 40 beds were available at the hospitals two wards. But under plans to close the Stretton ward and move all the beds to the downstairs Dinham ward, only 24 will remain.

Officials at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust say no beds will be lost and that 24 beds have been in operation between the two wards for the past year – despite the trust's own website stating the hospital had 40 beds until it was changed earlier this week.

The trust says the number of beds was reduced from 40 to 24 in July last year based on staffing and population levels and improvements in community support outside of the hospital, meaning patients didn't have to spend as long on the ward. Bed numbers can rise and fall on demand, with extra winter pressure beds still available, a spokesman said.

Supporters of Shropshire Defend Our NHS are not convinced, claiming staff and volunteers at the hospital have informed them there were 19 beds on Dinham ward until recently and 17 on Stretton ward only two weeks ago.

More than 2,300 people have signed a petition against the ward merger and a public meeting will be held at Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on Broad Street at 7pm tonight.

Gill George, speaking for Shropshire Defend Our NHS, said: "There's a smoke and mirrors game being played here. The refurbishment of the hospital was originally used as an excuse to cut bed numbers.

"Beds were then put back because there is a clear clinical need for them. Now they're taking away the beds for good – and playing games to pretend it isn't happening."

Both League of Friends of Ludlow Hospital chairman Peter Corfield and Ludlow North councillor Andy Boddington expressed concerns about the apparent discrepancy in bed numbers.

Mr Corfield said: "This is less than the number of beds proposed in the 2006 Service Plan which brought thousands of people on the streets in protest."

Jan Ditheridge, chief executive of the trust, said: "We will still be providing the same number of beds and access for patients, but the clinical teams will be better able to deliver safe, high quality care.

"We have experienced some serious nurse shortages over the last couple of years and despite many creative recruitment drives still do not have enough trained nurses.

"If the nurses are on the same floor it is much easier for them to support each other across the wards areas – keeping patients and carers safe and providing a much more supportive working environment for our staff.

"We expect this move to improve the experience of the patients we care for in Ludlow. The move is an interim arrangement and will be monitored carefully to ensure there are no unintended consequences," she said.