DOCTORS at a Ludlow surgery say a ward at the town's hospital is due to close at the end of this week and this marks the 'beginning of the end for Ludlow Hospital.'

A statement from Dr Farnell, Dr Yarham, Dr Beanland, of the Ludlow Portcullis GP Surgery, says the Stretton Ward at Ludlow Hospital is to close this Friday "without adequate consultation and with only a week’s notice."

It adds that: "Only Dinham ward will continue to have inpatient beds at the hospital.

"We feel this change is being implemented without adequate consultation of the staff and with no regard to a public consultation and should be stopped in its tracks before it is implemented on Friday July 31.

"With this change we are coming to the conclusion that there is no intention from either the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group CCG or the trust that Ludlow will be one of the Urgent Care Centres recommended by the Future Fit program and that instead this the beginning of the end for Ludlow Hospital."

The Ludlow Advertiser is approaching the health authorities for a response.