HEALTH chiefs have confirmed that Bridgnorth Hospital’s baby ward is safe. Local MP Philip Dunne revealed this week that the future of the unit had been assured during talks with the Shropshire & Telford NHS Hospitals Trust.
Mr Dunne said he had met trust chief executive Adam Cairns and chairman Dr John Davies.
“They gave a commitment that the Bridgnorth and Ludlow units will continue and that there is no intention to close either,” said the MP.
Fears over the future of the maternity unit intensified earlier this month when it was temporarily shut because of a midwife shortage.
The trust had earlier dismissed the concerns, but said it was looking at a full range of options including staffing levels.
Mr Dunne said he had also met Shropshire Primary Care Trust chief executive Jo Chambers over the future of the operating theatre, which has been ‘temporarily’ shut since January.
“The PCT has put in a bid to get it reopened and that requires capital commitment from the strategic health authority,” he said. “The PCT is keeping the League of Friends informed.”
A 4,500-name petition urging the reopening of the theatre was presented last month to June Patel, then managing director of the PCT’s provider services.
PCT communications and marketing manager Mathew James revealed this week that Mrs Patel has now retired and been succeeded by Paul Draycott, formerly director of the trust’s organisational development.
“Paul is continuing the work to complete the business case for the Bridgnorth Hospital theatre and has recently met with the League of Friends to update them,” said Mr James.
The theatre is closed because it falls below national standards and the business case to examine its reopening is expected to be debated next month. The Hospital Walk gate is to be temporarily closed from next Wednesday while a breast screening unit is on the site.