Access still an issue for Ludlow’s flagship hospital (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Access still an issue for Ludlow’s flagship hospital

8:00am Friday 4th January 2013 in News By Adrian Kibbler

AS work starts in earnest to transform waste land at Ludlow Eco Park into a new £27 million hospital and health village the issue of accessibility is set to reopen.

The hospital was approved by health chiefs in the summer but only after an uneasy truce about the suitability of the transfer of GP surgeries to the site.

A powerful protest by the Save a Ludlow Town Surgery group (SALT) was ef fectively called of f because of a threat that the campaigners would be held to blame if the hospital and health village project was turned down.

The g roup led by town centre resident Joyce Brand ( pictured) always maintained that it was not against the hospital, but wanted a GP service maintained in the town centre.

However, supporters of the plan, including Ludlow MP Philip Dunne claimed the relocation of both Ludlow GP surgeries to the facility was a key element of the scheme.

Meanwhile, Dr Leigh Griffin, deputy chief executive of Shropshire Primary Care Trust, publicly distanced himself from the argument that retaining a surgery in the town would jeopardise the hospital scheme. However he did say that such a move would have meant a change to the Business Plan resulted in delay that would have carried some risk.

SALT maintains health chiefs recognised the importance of accessibility and nothing is ruled out – including some kind of outreach practice in the town in the future.