'We trust the trust and they trust us' – Town celebrates after rare victory to save hospital beds
A town is celebrating after a rare 'David vs Goliath' victory to preserve services at a local hospital.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Campaigners and residents in Bishop's Castle have been left delighted after their committed efforts to save the 16 inpatient beds at the town's community hospital were successful.
The unit had been temporarily closed in 2021 due to staffing issues.
That closure looked set to become permanent before a joint effort between the town's residents and Shropshire Community Health Trust (Shropcom), which runs the hospital, resulted in a successful recruitment drive.
Those efforts to find staff were supported and promoted by the town residents and the 'Save our Beds' campaign, and have been hailed as model other towns and communities could follow when looking to preserve their own services.
The success is a rare story, with closure plans rarely reversed, and official consultations increasingly depressingly seen as a method of rubber stamping bad news, and taking the sting out of the loss.
The result, approved by Shropcom's board on Thursday, has seen praise from both sides, with the trust thanking the community for its work, and campaigners thanking the trust and its staff for being good to their word and working with them to re-open the unit.
