Ludlow hospital campaign is gathering pace

Residents, politicians and GPs are set to attend the meeting, organised by a coalition bringing together Ludlow Hospital League of Friends, Shropshire Defend Our NHS, members of the town council, and other interested parties.

The meeting coincides with the launch of the petition ‘Save Ludlow Hospital’ which has so far attracted almost 500 signatures.

It comes after a review into community care in Shropshire was launched by Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The review will look at the county’s four minor injury units (MIUs) in Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, and Whitchurch.

Shropshire CCG’s engagement period on community hospital cuts ends on November 10.

Gill George from Shropshire Defend our NHS, said: “we are hoping to get many, many more signatures. it is essential to reinforce the need of the hospital in the community in ludlow.”Ludlow will speak with one voice on this. If we lose inpatient beds, the MIU and the maternity unit, we also lose X-ray, renal dialysis, and consultant-led clinics from Hereford Hospital and SaTH. Even routine community services like physio and podiatry would potentially be at risk.

“It is used not only by those people from the local community who need lifesaving treatment but also by people living further afield in South Shropshire. There is also the overspill from Shrewsbury that happens. It is also used by tourists and visitors to the area. If the CCG start pulling out the beds renal dialysis will go without question. People will have to travel four or five times a week to Shrewsbury for life saving treatment - a 60 mile round trip each time.

“Having the renal unit in Ludlow has transformed people’s lives as has the x-ray unit and the in-patient beds.

“Without these there will be more reliance on the ambulances and A&E in Shrewsbury.

“Ludlow absorbs its own smoke and does an extremely good job of looking after sick people. We have at the moment a healthcare system that hangs together – that works well. Our very good local GP service is able to care for people at home or close to home precisely because they have the back up of the MIU, of local beds, of district nurses who know the area and work closely with GPs.

“This means very low rates of ambulance call outs, A&E use, and acute hospital admission – precisely because we’ve got local care that works. If the CCG stupidly steams ahead with the destruction of our local hospital, it will have devastating consequences for that local system of healthcare – and for the health and wellbeing of very many people. It’s about pursuing short term cost savings – but with much greater costs, financially and to people’s health, as a direct result of that.”

The public meeting, which will be chaired by Ludlow Mayor, Councillor Tim Gill and which Ludlow’s MP Philip Dunne has promised to attend, takes place is on November 9 at 7pm at the Methodist Church, Broad Street, Ludlow.

To sign the petition go to https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-ludlow-hospital.html