Ludlow Hospital absolutely safe, says MP
Ludlow Hospital is "absolutely safe" the town's MP said as he met protestors outside a meeting with health bosses.
Shropshire Defend Our NHS campaigners gathered outside of the Mascall Centre in Ludlow where the town's MP Philip Dunne was due to meet in private with various health officials on Friday.
The campaigners were there to raise fears over the future of Ludlow Hospital, especially in the light of the news that a lease still has not been signed on the building despite it being a year since terms were drawn up.
The group was also protesting about the uncertain future of GP-led out-of-hours medical care provider Shropdoc, which may be scrapped or merged with the national NHS 111 advice line in the future.
Ludlow Hospital is also a base for Shropdoc, raising fears its loss will threaten the hospital. Mr Dunne was at the Mascall Centre to chair a routine health focus group meeting.
Campaigner Marilyn Gaunt said Mr Dunne had confirmed that Ludlow Hopsital was safe.
Mr Gaunt said: "Ludlow resident Heather Price asked Mr Dunne when the site lease from NHS Property Services, that has been promised for over two years, would be signed – and if it was for 10, 15 or 25 years.
"Mr Dunne did not give a figure but answered that it is just a matter of getting the paperwork completed now and he had no idea why it had been delayed for so long.
"He added that as he had repeated many times Ludlow Hospital was safe, absolutely safe."
Officials at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust have confirmed talks over the lease are still ongoing.
Andy Rogers, spokesman for Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust said: "We are still working with NHS Property Services to finalise the details of the lease for Ludlow Community Hospital."
