Campaigners praise NHS as hospital ward gets recruitment success

The campaigners said there had been surprise in the town at the turn of events

A campaign group has praised the NHS for helping to save a community hospital ward.

The 16-bed unit at Bishop's Castle Community Hospital shut in 2021 due to staff shortages but in September, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust promised another recruitment drive.

The move led to a number of new staff being taken on and a campaign group said everyone was "very appreciative".

More recruitment events were planned in future months.

Jenny Sargent, chair of Bishop's Castle Save Our Beds, said the group was now "working well with the trust".

It had also been included in meetings and interviews for potential new recruits.

"They have been very positive and we are very appreciative," she added.

Protests were held in the town after the ward was closed in 2021

Andy Stelman, a Bishop's Castle town councillor, said the situation improved after a number of public meetings over the summer which led to the NHS offering to seek more staff.

"It was quite clear from all of those conversations that there was a huge passion and commitment and drive in the town to keep the hospital open," he said.

Gillie Martin, who was a practice nurse for 25 years, said: "I think everyone was completely blown away by the idea that maybe there was an opportunity, because I think up until then we'd rather thought it was a done deal."

The recruitment days held so far have led to the recruitment of a ward manager, deputy ward manager and some nursing staff, but more were needed, the NHS said.

The 16-bed unit was for patients too well to be in an acute hospital but not well enough to be at home

Patricia Davies, chief executive of the NHS trust, said more recruitment events were planned on 25 November, 12 January and 24 February.

"It's been really uplifting really, working with the community," she said.