A summary of recent work by the League of Friends to support services provided at  Ludlow Community Hospital

Over the past few weeks the League of Friends has stepped up its efforts to improve the provision of healthcare facilities in South Shropshire:

  • Meeting held with local MP Stuart Anderson to discuss the needs of Ludlow Hospital
  • Commissioned a major report from David Sandbach, the ex-CEO of Princess Royal Hospital, Telford showing how healthcare could be improved using the latest technology and also how a new Hospital/Diagnostic Centre could be developed on the Ecopark site, including how such a development could be funded (briefing note on report below)
  • Held a meeting with Patricia Davies, CEO of Shropcom, the organisation responsible for the running of Ludlow Hospital, to improve communication and foster co-development of facilities for the Hospital.
  • Instigated the foundation of a steering committee to take forward the points raised at the recent public meeting on healthcare in the area.
  • Continued to support financially healthcare initiatives at the Hospital and in the wider community.

Ludlow League of Friends members’ briefing by David Sandbach:

During the League of Friends committee meeting on the 10th March 2025, David Sandbach was invited to brief the League on potential developments which could be put forward to the NHS leadership i.e. Shropshire Telford & Wrekin Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the ShropCom.

The briefing was comprehensive and had four main themes:

  1. Improved transparency
  2. Upgrading services at the hospital
  3. Provision of a New build to accommodate 32 single ensuite hospital beds and an Urgent Treatment Centre
  4. Provision of a comprehensive “health and hub” to improve Preventative Health services
  • There is a need for “the sword of Damocles” to be removed regarding the future of the hospital. By 1st April 2026, at the very latest, the Trust should publish an agreed plan concerning the future, including staffing and the hospital budget.
  • The service provided must be provided on a consistent good quality basis
  • Provision of an Urgent Treatment Centre – which is part of a networked Urgent Emergency Care system connected by video link to any main A&E department.
  • Expansion of diagnostic facilities available in Ludlow including a 4 weekly mobile CT and MRI service shared with Bridgnorth 1 week, Whitchurch 1 week and Oswestry 1 week.
  • Expansion of access to clinical expertise from acute hospitals and also specialist expertise from tertiary centres in the UK and on rare occasions from overseas. Using a system called Attend Anywhere.
  • Reprovision of inpatient facilities in a modern purpose built unit alongside a new Urgent Treatment Centre on the Eco Park site. If need be, funding via a Public Interest Company financial arrangement.
  • Provision of a comprehensive “community health hub” within the existing set of hospital buildings focused on PREVENTING ill health in the general population of Ludlow, including supporting people taking personal responsibility for their own health as far as possible.