Bishop's Castle Community Hospital improvements unveiled

New £1.3 million facilities at Bishop's Castle Community Hospital have been officially unveiled.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed yesterday by Ludlow MP Philip Dunne and Dr Adam Crowther of the Community Hospital Association. Over the past two years work has been carried out to improve inpatient and outpatient areas.

This has created single ensuite rooms and new reception and entrance areas.

A palliative care suite with overnight stay facilities for relatives has also been built along with a walled garden.

The hospital stayed open while the work was carried out and bosses paid tribute to staff efforts during that time.

It represents a major step forward for the hospital, which five years ago was under threat of closure, prompting public demonstrations and protests.

Work was funded through £750,000 from Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) and grants from the King's Fund and the Friends of Bishop's Castle Community Hospital.

From July 1, the hospital will be managed by the new Community Health NHS Trust covering Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.

Jo Chambers, chief executive designate of the Community Health NHS Trust, said: "The refurbishment of Bishop's Castle Hospital has been a great example of the positive benefits that can be achieved for patients when local communities and the NHS work closely together and I'd like to thank everyone who has been part of the project."

Mr Dunne said: "This is a great day for people in Bishop's Castle and surrounding area. This total refurbishment of Bishop's Castle Community Hospital brings state-of-the-art facilities and secures the future of the community hospital within the new Community NHS Trust.

"This is a vast improvement on where we were five years ago when the hospital's future was under threat. I'm pleased to have been able to help, but more importantly I want to place on record my thanks to all those involved."

By Peter Kitchen