New Ludlow hospital plan thrown into doubt
Ludlow's new £27 million hospital has been thrown into doubt due to a major shortfall in funding, it has been revealed.
Health chiefs have revealed there is a £1.1 million per year gap in funding which means the project cannot move forward without additional financial support. And an appeal for help finding the extra cash has been made to Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, with a decision expected within weeks.
The shock announcement was made at a meeting of Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust's board yesterday afternoon.
It has been met with despair by campaigners who have been calling for a new hospital to serve the town and surrounding area for more than a decade.
Board members said accounting issues relating to VAT and the amount of patients using the hospital, which would help pay for the new build, was less than was assumed.
The planned new hospital at Ludlow Eco Business Park is intended to replace the town's existing community hospital on Gravel Hill and will also become the new home of the Portcullis and Station Drive GP surgeries.
It was due to open next year.
