Powys border hospital closer to reopening, say campaigners

New applicants for permanent jobs offering salaries between £28,400 and £34,600 at the 16-bed Bishop's Castle Community Hospital are now being offered a £3,000 'golden handshake' to help attract new staff to the area.

Shropcom's board of directors concluded in October that it was not convinced enough had been done to try and fill vacancies at the hospital and are running recruitment days from 10am to 2pm on Friday, January 12 and Saturday, February 24.

The Save our Beds campaigners have been running events to save the hospital from permanent closure after it closed in October 2021 over safety concerns with lack of staff.

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Jenny Sargent, of the Save our Beds campaign, said: "We understand we are now very close to having the 12 new staff needed to reopen the ward.

“We were here all day [on the November 25 recruitment day] to welcome potential new applicants and were impressed by the quality and positive attitudes. We understand four of those turning up on the day were suitable for several relevant posts.”

Colleague Alicia Hegarty added: “We just need a few more Band 5 registered nurses to give us back a fully functioning ward.

"These beds are essential for post-op recovery, respite, and end-of-life care. They take pressure off our main hospitals by providing local beds at a much lower cost, vital for our rural communities."

Shropshire Councillor for Bishop's Castle Ruth Houghton said she was pleased to spend the day at the hospital helping interview potential applicants.

"Bishop's Castle Community Hospital is so important to the town, located where we are many miles from other medical resources, and reopening the ward is so important to the hospital’s future," she said.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Chris Naylor added: "With two medics in the family I was delighted to be invited to spend the day supporting the recruitment drive and talking with several excellent applicants. Backing South Shropshire’s community hospitals is the top line of our local manifesto, and I’m totally committed - having done the 18-mile bed push with Mayor Josh Dickin - to backing Bishop's Castle.”

Applicants have until Saturday, December 16, to apply for jobs at the hospital by searching for the roles at www.jobs.nhs.uk using NHS vacancy reference number 825-5647070-OPS-C.