FEARS are growing that the temporary closure of in-patient wards at Wellington Community Hospital may become permanent.

Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, which is looking at the long-term role and scope of community hospitals, has told the League of Friends it cannot rule out that eventuality.

In the near term, Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust says it is hopeful of re-opening the wards, now closed for nine months, in early summer.

League treasurer John Bailey, speaking on behalf of his fellow 15 trustees, told of the group’s frustration about the ward closures.

He said: “We are finding it increasingly difficult to talk to people we meet in the streets and to constantly have to say we have no idea when or if the hospital will be staffed and open again.

“We try to remain optimistic that the staffing situation will improve but there is a growing restlessness with people now asking when are we going to take to the streets [protest] – and it is difficult to answer this without sounding defeatist.”

The re-opening of the wards will depend on the success of the NHS trust’s recruitment drive and reconfiguration of the bed base across the county. The trust has written to the League of Friends to say it remains committed to re-opening the inpatient wards as soon as it can safely do so.

The ten beds in the inpatient wards were initially closed to allow for essential building work and then because of staff shortages.

Uncertainty has surrounded the future of the hospital for a number of years. In October 2017 concerns were raised over staffing levels and that Wellington Community Hospital was on a list for closure.

Mr Bailey added: “This uncertainty has meant some of the improvements we would have liked to fund had to be put on hold and now, because of internal changes to the hospital, can no long be carried out.

“The temporary closure is frustrating. We have been in close communication with Somerset Partnership Trust regarding its efforts to recruit nursing staff and we do have a certain amount of sympathy with its difficulties.

“However, it was well known in the community that our hospital was adequately staffed when it first closed and that Wellington staff were moved to fill the requirements of other units in the county.

“This has not been easy for some of them who lived locally to Wellington. We would love to see the wards re-opened, and it may be this can happen, but even if they do we still have the uncertainty of the long-term future of the hospital as an in-patient facility. It is extremely worrying.”

The League of Friends will be invited to be part of Somerset CCG’s review of community hospitals and to look at the options, which will then go out to public consultation.

The League of Friends said Maria Heard, programme director Fit for my Future Integrated Health and Care Programme at the CCG, could not give absolute assurances about the future of Wellington or other community hospitals in Somerset.

She said the CCG is looking at the role and scope of community hospitals as part of a wider ‘Fit for My Future ‘community settings of care programme’ to find the best model for improving and expanding health care in the community, closer to people’s homes. She said Leagues of Friends across the county would soon be invited to be part of the community hospitals review.

Mr Bailey added: “The League welcomes this opportunity to be involved in this process and will do all it can to convince the CCG of the need to keep Wellington Community Hospital fully operational.

“We’re waiting to hear dates and details but in the meantime we would like to hear from anyone about their views, recent experiences etc on the hospital. These will be treated in confidence and all names will be withheld. Views can be e-mailed to [email protected].”