High Sheriff to visit Ludlow Hospital
There will be a special guest of honour at Ludlow Hospital tomorrow when The High Sheriff of Shropshire drops in to see at first hand the contributions made by the hospital's League of Friends.
The aim of Rhoderick M Swire Esq DL's visit is to see to patient comforts and equipment and at the same time meet the hospital staff who now have the very latest equipment with which to treat their patients.
The Ludlow League of Friends was formed to support both the Ludlow Cottage Hospital in the centre of Ludlow and the East Hamlets Hospital on the present site when the old Ludlow Workhouse buildings were taken over by the NHS in 1948.
Parts of the old Workhouse acted as a local hospital from 1840, an Infirmary building was added in 1900, a new geriatric unit opened on June 1 1971 and further additions opened in April 1983, when the town centre facility closed. At its peak the hospital provided 92 in-patient beds, including a ward for elderly mentally infirm. Currently the hospital operates 24 in-patient beds.
Since 2006 The League has invested over £600,000 in equipment, including every bed, bedside locker, table, a relatives room, a renal dialysis facility for 10 patients per day, various ophthalmic diagnostic and treatment equipment, ultrasound scanning, heart monitoring equipment, physiotherapy diagnostic and exercise facilities, equipment for audiology testing – and a play centre for junior patients attending the Minor Injuries Unit.
Currently a new x-ray facility, purchased by The League at a cost of £152,000, is providing an enhanced service to local GP referrals as well as Consultant-led outpatient clinics, and in-patients with learning difficulties, memory loss or dementia now benefit from new memory training equipment provided by The League.
“We are particularly anxious to develop a close working relationship with the various NHS Trusts in Shropshire to ensure that the best possible services are provided closer to home.
"The new x-ray and “My Memory” systems are prime examples of what can be achieved by working together to reduce the stress for our ageing population having to travel long distances for simple tests that can be provided locally” said Peter Corfield, Chairman of the League.
“The more work that can be done closer to home the better it is for patients and will, inevitably, reduce the pressures on the larger hospitals and A&E departments in Shrewsbury, Telford and Hereford. We are prepared to invest in new technology, such a tele-health, even on a trial basis and are anxious for decisions on the future of healthcare to be made and made quickly."
