THERE is confusion about the plans for Urgent Care Centres in Ludlow and Bishop's Castle.

Tracey Huffer, a nurse and member for Ludlow East on Shropshire Council, claims that plans for Urgent Care Centres have been dropped.

But health chiefs say that no decision has been made.

Urgent care centres were intended to provide treatment for injuries and illness that do not require Accident and Emergency treatment.

The securing of an Urgent Care Centre is seen by many campaigners as key to securing the future of a hospital in Ludlow.

“I am in utter despair, this is a disaster in the making,” said Tracey Huffer.

“Now we hear that for anything more serious than a sprain or cut, patients may have to go on a 60-mile round trip to Shrewsbury or Telford.

“The community health trusts have now made it clear that the needs of rural patients are second best. We have been seriously let down. It looks like we are just going to get sticking plasters applied if you live outside Shrewsbury or Telford.

“The people of Ludlow and the rural south of the county have a right to a decent medical service. We need at least a major injuries unit at Ludlow Hospital. But there is no guarantee that the hospital will survive. The NHS lease on the property has still not been signed.”

She said GP surgeries in Ludlow are under pressure and in no position to cope with the extra workload.

“What we need to do now is to build a local future for health care services in this town,” added Tracey Huffer.

"This needs to involve the GPs, the community health care trust that runs the hospital, our care homes and the whole of the local community."

But David Evans, accountable officer for Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group said that no decision has been made.

“No decisions have yet been made on the future shape of services, but as a health system all partners are in agreement that no change is not an option for our hospitals,” he said.

“We need to resolve the workforce issues in emergency and critical care and are absolutely committed to ensuring that our two hospitals are vibrant, delivering quality services for patients.

"Clinicians have told us that one emergency centre supported by two urgent care centres located in Shrewsbury and Telford is the way forward.

"After listening to patients and GPs we know that we need to look at any potential impact that hospital changes may have on other services, especially in the community and GP services, and including urgent care services across the county. As a health system we are committed to working together and will not agree to any solution that has a detrimental effect on other services.

“We are taking the time to listen to everyone who has voiced concerns and provided us with valuable feedback and we will engage them in arriving at solutions to the challenges we face.

"Only when this has been completed will final decisions be made."