THE Friends of Ludlow Hospital are calling for a new commitment from the NHS to improve the services offered to patients.

In a document setting out hopes for the future, the League of Friends say it is time to halt a prolonged period of uncertainty and decline that is blighting the hospital.

The League of Friends paint a bleak picture of the situation at the hospital.

"In April 2013 the Ludlow Hospital site was transferred into the ownership of the NHS Property Services who have the responsibility for the upkeep of the site as well as now charging commercial rents to the occupants of the buildings," said the Friends.

"From 2013 to 2016 little action was taken to halt the deterioration of the estate, resulting in the emergency closure in October 2016 of the building which housed the midwife-led maternity unit.

"This unit has since been relocated into the main body of the hospital, occupying space reserved for escalation beds.

"The in-patient capacity of the hospital was reduced from 40 to 24 in 2015 and the two separate male and female wards were combined into Dinham Ward.

‘Despite initial close involvement with FutureFit, the league has lost all confidence in the project’s ability to address the community needs in the rural areas and if anything the process appears to have led to all the community services being at imminent risk of reduction, repatriation to the acute hospital sites or closing altogether."

The League of Friends say that the time has come for a firm commitment to the long-term future of the hospital that was to have been replaced by a new £27 hospital and health village at Ludlow Eco Park.

However, this was abandoned at the 11th hour as a result of government changes to the NHS.

Looking to the future, the League of Friends wants to see an expansion of services including new outpatient clinics and for the hospital to become a centre for the provision of care in the community.

It wants to see the future of the maternity unit confirmed and also for Ludlow Hospital to be maintained as a minor injuries unit for south Shropshire.

This provides care at a level below Accident and Emergency for dealing with illness and injury that need treatment but are not life threatening.

The League of Friends believe that with proper investment hospitals like Ludlow can play an important role in taking the pressure off Accident and Emergency and acute hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford.

They say that the take-up of beds in Ludlow is high and that this demonstrates a need.

Inpatient beds in hospitals like Ludlow are used to care for people who are not well enough to return home but do not need the level of care provided at larger hospitals.

“We believe that the important role that should be played by community hospitals is not fully appreciated by those responsible for the re-design of health service provision in Shropshire,” said Peter Corfield, chairman of the League of Friends of Ludlow Hospital.