Hospital campaign could see stagnated healthcare for 17,000, claim

About 17,000 patients registered at GP surgeries in Ludlow could face stagnated healthcare if the town's new £27 million hospital is derailed by campaigners, it has been claimed.

Dr Dorian Yarham from Portcullis Surgery, and Graham Cook, from Station Drive Surgery, made the claim while addressing a meeting last night at Ludlow Mascall Centre.

Dozens of local residents attended the gathering organised by the Save a Ludlow Town Surgery (Salt) group.

Salt say they back the overarching plan to build a 'health village' on Ludlow Eco Park east of the A49 but believe moving both GP surgeries out of the centre of town as part of the scheme would negatively affect elderly and disabled residents living in the middle of Ludlow.

But Mr Cook said: "I know there is a 1,200 petition (against moving GP surgeries out of the centre of Ludlow). But our practices deal with 17,000 people in the area.

"They are relying on us to get this right that is the responsibility we are carrying. Against all the odds we have secured £27 million of funding which is waiting to be signed off by the Strategic Health Authority (SHA).

"I'm not trying to be a scaremonger. My feeling is if the Salts campaign carries on the SHA will baulk at this scheme and it will all be lost."