There has been concern in the last couple of days about the former infirmary at Ludlow Community Hospital being knocked down for housing. I don’t know why this suddenly arose. We published details of the sale in October 2021 and called for a plan for the entire heath estate in Ludlow. That of course has not materialised. We also said that housing and apartments would not be compatible with the hospital uses on the site. In May 2022, an application was submitted by Messrs Godrich & Bergius to convert the building into workshops and offices (22/02263/COU). Again, we published details as soon as we had them. This proposal received no objections and was supported by local councillors. It is now within a day or so of gaining planning permission and Godrich & Bergius are keen to get going on the project.
Tag: maternity unit
Plans to convert former maternity unit at Ludlow Hospital into small business spaces
A planning application has been submitted to convert the former maternity unity at Ludlow Community Hospital to workshops and office space (22/02263/COU). The building was put up for sale last October and there was concern that it might be converted into apartments, a use that would not be compatible with the hospital uses on the site. This is good application from entrepreneurs Johnny Bergius and Ed Godrich who have been looking for a home for an adventurous concept. The plan is to host an eclectic mix of small businesses, offices, artists, craft studios, filmmakers and the like. There is also talk of a coffee roastery. We are desperately short of space for small enterprises in Ludlow. We need projects like this to allow south Shropshire’s community, culture and economy to thrive. There is no plan for managing the health estate across Ludlow. Both GP practices will need more space by […]
SaTH launches a consultation to “temporarily” close rural maternity units permanently
Today Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust launched a six week consultation on the future of rural maternity services. It has kept this very quiet. The review follows the extended closure of MLUs in Ludlow, Bridgnorth and Oswestry. Tracey Huffer, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow East, says: “It’s almost a joke. It is so typical of the way that SaTH is working.” [More…] Tracey continues: The midwife led maternity units have been closed for births for weeks. Now SaTH has launched a consultation intended to make the closure for births permanent. SaTH may try to pretend that the closure of MLUs for births is temporary. The reality is that it will be permanent. It may blame a shortage of staff. The reality is that SaTH itself has created that shortage. SaTH may plead that women are “preferring” to give birth in Shrewsbury or Telford. The reality is that rural mothers have had […]
Extended closure of rural maternity units is an excuse to close them permanently – it’s wrong
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust today announced that the rural maternity units at Ludlow, Oswestry and Bridgnorth are to remain closed for births indefinitely. This decision has been made ahead of a public consultation on the future of the MLUs. It is obvious that SaTH intends to close the three MLUs permanently. It claims that 98% of women are “choosing” to give birth elsewhere. Of course this is so. The rural MLUs are rarely open for births. This has been a cynical exercise to shut the MLUs by stealth.
Ludlow Maternity Unit closes for two weeks – welcome to Shropshire’s version of Groundhog Day
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust has decided to lose Ludlow Maternity Unit for two weeks. Tracey Huffer, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow East says: I have completely lost track of how often we have heard that Ludlow Maternity Unit is to close temporarily. A few days later, it reopens. And not long after that, the health trust, SaTH, announces the maternity unit is to close yet again. Maternity services in rural Shropshire look like they are stuck in a Groundhog Day.