Closed ward may be reopened for patients

Extra beds and new services are planned for a Shropshire community hospital a year after health bosses controversially closed the county's last dedicated ward for elderly mentally ill patients.

Officials at Whitchurch Hospital have revealed they want to offer patients services such as chemotherapy, dialysis and blood transfusions at Beech Ward, which has stood empty since closing last July.

Five thousand people signed a petition against the closure of the ward, which had 16 beds and catered for elderly mentally ill patients.

But health bosses pressed ahead with their plans, insisting they would beef up elderly mental health services in the community.

Now details have emerged about future plans for the site, which has about 32 beds largely for rehabilitation and end of life care.

Ted Wilson, director of service delivery at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, which owns the hospital, said: "The trust is keen that Beech Ward at Whitchurch Hospital is used to provide health and/or health-related services.

"We are continuing to work with both community groups and those who are responsible for buying local NHS health services to develop options for services that might be provided from Beech Ward.

"This work is on-going and we are hopeful that in the future more services could be offered locally for people who live in Whitchurch and the surrounding areas.

"The trust is looking at which services it may be able to provide from Beech Ward.

"These services could, for example, include extra beds for patients who do not need main acute hospital care, but are still too poorly to go home.

They may also include services for outpatient care like chemotherapy or blood transfusions."

Margaret Hiles, spokeswoman for the Friends of Whitchurch Hospital, said: "It is good to hear plans for new services are taking shape."