Inpatient beds to reopen at community hospital

Campaigners updated their protest banners to read "we did it" after the decision was announced

Health bosses have agreed to reopen inpatient beds at a community hospital, more than two years after they closed.

The temporary closure at Bishop's Castle hospital was announced in October 2021, due to concerns over staffing and safety.

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust (ShropCom) later said the closure could become permanent, prompting protests from locals.

The trust has since worked with campaigners to recruit more staff, and announced at a meeting on Thursday that the beds would reopen.

Health bosses announced the reopening at a meeting on Thursday

The mayor of Bishop’s Castle, Josh Dickin said the news was "absolutely brilliant".

Mr Dickin, who was pushed around the town in a bed as part of the campaign to reopen the beds, said: “We’re just appreciative to the trust, the community for waiting, to the staff that will be redeployed, for giving that opportunity.”

Campaigner Christine Williams, who described her role as “going to meetings and shouting loudly”, said she was very emotional: “It just shows you what people can do when they work hard and are keen, and all communities can do it.”

Christine Williams said she was "very emotional" at the decision

Deputy mayor Andy Stelman added: “We’ve worked incredibly hard and collaboratively with the trust, and I think the initial difficulties between the community and the trust have long been erased.”

ShropCom's chief executive Patricia Davies said: “Myself and the trust board made a commitment to reopen the inpatient beds if safe to do so, and we are thrilled to be working on the plan for the reopening of the service.”

A date for the reopening of the beds has not yet been set, and Ms Davies said details would be released shortly.