Hopes for hospital raised

Campaigners hoping to get a Shropshire community hospital reopened after more than 15 years are one step closer to their goal.In a meeting with the Market Drayton Cottage Hospital committee, Shropshire Primary Care Trust officials revealed they would be willing to support the hospital being reopened with 25 intermediate care beds.

The PCT will decide if it can afford to fund the running costs of the hospital.

Committee chairman Bob Yardley said he was encouraged and about £375,000 held by the former hospital's League of Friends could be used to set up the hospital.

"They informed us they were looking at all aspects of health throughout Shropshire and said at least we have got one advantage in Market Drayton in that we have a building and we have a site," he said.

"We decided it would be possible for capital funding for the hospital to be found, but it depends on whether the health trust will fund 25 intermediate care beds."

He said a community hospital in Tarporley, Cheshire, with 17 beds cost about £600,000 per year to run.

PCT corporate affairs director Julie Thornby said: "We are still reviewing the options for providing health services in Market Drayton. We have got the site there which could be used if required, and it could be used for services with or without beds.

"As far as capital costs and running costs go, we would have to do some more detailed work."