LUDLOW Town Council is to call as second public meeting as concerns grow over the future of the hospital in the town.

The Town Council is deeply concerned that despite comments from health chiefs Ludlow may lose its hospital as the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group seeks to address a deficit of more than £10 million.

Councillors are also concerned about the failure to reach a decision on the future of acute and Accident and Emergency care in Shropshire.

Joyce Brand of the ‘Shropshire Defend our NHS’ group spoke in the public open session at the Town Council meeting and claimed at the problem with community hospitals had resulted in 69 beds being blocked in A&E.

Town Councillor Graeme Perks said that it seemed that little had changed since there was a campaign in the town to save the existing hospital.

He said there is a need to press for ‘rural proofing’ to ensure that additional funding is available to meet the special needs that apply to providing health services in rural and isolated areas like Ludlow and south Shropshire.

Councillor Tim Gill added that he was aware of someone who had been unable to get a bed at Ludlow Hospital which he believed the evidence suggested was being prepared for closure.

The Town Council that organised a public meeting in June following the decision to close one of the wards and plans to hold a second meeting before Christmas either at the end of November or in early December.