"As the Member of Parliament I am delighted that the local authorities in Ludlow have backed the idea originally proposed by the League of Friends for an alternative vision for Ludlow Hospital to be explored. I believe this is the right way to go for the hospital, which otherwise will be marginalised by the NHS and seen as a place to save money not serve patients. I am writing personally as a stakeholder in the consultation exercise to request the PCT to give time to allow these plans to be brought forward to a detailed business plan. It was encouraging to learn that another community hospital in Norfolk has just been taken over by a not-for-profit trust and so been saved from closure. The consultants believe this should be a viable way forward for Ludlow too.
Ludlow people have campaigned hard to save their hospital, we showed last night that we are untied in preventing cuts and taking positive initiative to build services for the future. I hope the NHS will give the time and work with people in South Shropshire to make this happen."
Turning to the detailed critique of the PCT's proposals endorsed by the District Council, Mr Dunne said: "SSDC has supported the fundamental flaws in the PCT's proposals which I and others have been flagging for months: .
• The mental health Whitcliff Ward should not be closed, in particular now we know the redevelopment of Shelton is up in the air.
• The threatened closure of the Clee Ward with its 20 rehabilitation beds has not been justified based on local current and predicted need..
• Cuts in District Nursing and Health Visitors would cut services in the community precisely when more would be needed if the rehab beds were closed.South Shropshire already has a shortage of community nurses: we are the only district in the county to have had no twilight hours service from District Nurses for some time."
