HEALTH chiefs are consulting with members of the public about what they should do if the staffing situation at Wellington Community Hospital becomes critical this winter.

Andy Heron, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive at Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, says in an email to town councillors that staffing is still fragile.

The WWN reported last week that the hospital in Bulford would be admitting inpatients from January. The trust closed the beds in August for repair works and then delayed plans to re-open them in October to support an increase in community stroke beds.

Mr Heron wrote: “We will continue to engage with local people and have launched a survey for people to give us their views about the criteria we need to consider if the staffing situation becomes very difficult again over the winter.