James Heappey MP holds urgent meeting with Health Minister Philip Dunne after Shepton Mallet Community Hospital announcement.
Wells MP James Heappey has met with Health Minister Philip Dunne after Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SOMPAR) announced 10 inpatient beds will temporary close at Shepton Mallet Community Hospital. The temporary closure is a result of staffing problems at the hospital and will come into effect at the end of this month.
Mr Heappey’s urgent meeting with the Minister was to raise his concerns about the temporary closure and seek assurance something will be done to recruit more clinicians to Somerset to solve the staffing issues as soon as possible.
After the emergency meeting, Mr Heappey said: “I raised with the Minister our serious concerns about the number of unfilled nursing vacancies in Somerset’s community healthcare system.
“The Minister has instructed his officials to look at the shortfall and to work with local health authorities to see how the gaps can be filled.
“I also raised with the Minister our ambitions for a community health campus in Shepton Mallet and sought his assurance that plans for redevelopment would not be affected by this temporary closure.
“I will continue to engage with ministers at the Department of Health until this issue is resolved and Shepton Mallet’s Community Hospital is fully open again.”