THE need for the Friends of Ludlow Hospital to strengthen its organising committee has been reinforced by the illness of its long serving chairman Peter Corfield.

At the beginning of the year ‘the Friends’ lost its treasurer who died unexpectedly and earlier in the year it was necessary to cancel one of the quarterly meetings because of illness.

This has caused the group to decide that it needs to look at its leadership and succession planning.

Friends of Ludlow Hospital has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on equipment including making it possible several years ago for a kidney dialysis unit to be installed.

It has also campaigned to save the hospital and promote health care in Ludlow and south Shropshire.

The friends are also keen to make more people aware of the wide range of services that are available at Ludlow Community Hospital including a minor injuries unit

Mr Corfield has been out of action with illness for three months after having to undergo two major operations.

“I am slowly recovering, two general anaesthetics at my age takes a toll, but clinically my problems have been dealt with,” said Mr Corfield.