HEALTH campaigners based in Ludlow are to put all parliamentary candidates in the constituency to the test.

Members of the ‘Shropshire Defend Our NHS' group will be contacting everyone seeking election to answer questions about local health services.

The group says that it wants answers of a number of key questions and is particularly concerned about what they believe is an increasing use of private businesses to deliver health services.

'Shropshire Defend Our NHS’ is worried about the loss of one of the two accident and emergency services based in Shrewsbury and Telford as well as the future of community hospitals including those in Ludlow and Bishop's Castle.

The campaigners believe that there is no clear commitment to urgent care provision in rural areas and fear that minor injuries units will be lost.

“With a general election coming up, we want to put our politicians on the spot,” said Joyce Brand of Shropshire Defend our NHS.

“They can all say ‘Trust me, the NHS is safe’ – but do they actually mean it? Will they fight to keep our A accident and emergency open? Will they stop the closure of one of our local acute hospitals?

“Will they stand up to party leaders who demand more cuts and more privatisation? We want to know.

“That’s why our members will be contacting all Parliamentary candidates locally to find out if they’ll really defend the NHS, or if it’s all hot air.”

The Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group has said that it is involved in a genuine consultation exercise about the future of health care. A number of information ‘road show’ events have been held including one at Ludlow Community Hospital last month (March).