Ludlow Community Hospital minor injuries unit will have hours cut
A minor injury unit at a community hospital in Shropshire will have its opening hours cut, despite being described as a 'vital service' for people in the south of the county.
The unit at Ludlow Community Hospital is currently open from 8am to 10pm every day to treat patients for cuts, sprains, bruises and other minor bumps. But from February 4 it will open only until 8pm.
Health chiefs say it is part of plans to standardise the service across Shropshire.
Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow South, said the move could increase the pressure on already struggling accident and emergency departments in Hereford, Shrewsbury and Telford. He said it was to be 'regretted' but he understood why it had to be done.
He said: "Clearly, any reduction or degradation of the service will increase the distance people have to travel in the case of an accident.
"But I know they face a very challenging situation in terms of funding."
Peter Corfield, chairman of the League of Friends for Ludlow Community Hospital, said it was a move that had been on the cards for some time and he thought people in the town would see very little difference.
Mr Corfield said: "The period from 8pm to 10pm has always been very low key. At the moment for those extra two hours they have to operate a three-shift system.
"Just by trimming it back by two hours they can operate a two-shift system and you have Shropdoc on site in any case."
He added he did not know how much it would save.
Gilly Scott, clinical lead for the unit at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, said it was a 'vital service' for the people of Ludlow and south-west Shropshire, providing an alternative for patients who would otherwise have to make longer journeys to visit A & E.
But she denied the cutting of hours would compromise patient care and said it was part of a move to 'standardise' opening hours across all four units in the county.
By Wayne Beese
