A PUBLIC meeting in Ludlow will consider the future of NHS services in the town and surrounding area.

The meeting will try to get answers about the future of Ludlow Hospital where there is growing concern that it faces closure.

It also comes at a time when health service and council budgets are under unprecedented pressure.

Ludlow Town Council and the Ludlow and Clee Local Joint Committee of Shropshire Council will be hosting the public debate on health and public services.

Health minister and Ludlow MP Philip Dunne will join a panel for a “Question Time” style debate on the future of services in the south of the county.

He will be joined by Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for rural services and George Candler, the council’s director of commissioning.

“We are faced with unprecedented challenges here in Ludlow,” said Paul Draper, Mayor of Ludlow.

“The town council are being pressed to take on services from Shropshire Council.

“At the same time, local health services are under threat. We need to fight hard to ensure that rural towns like ours and the villages in the south of the county are not cut off from essential services.

“There is a very real danger that services and health facilities will be sucked out of Ludlow. We may find that we have to travel to Shrewsbury and Telford for many of our essential health and social needs.”

Tracey Huffer, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow South and a nurse working in the town says that it comes down to a crisis with funding.

“Health services in Shropshire and across England are stretched,” she said.

“Shropshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group is overspending by millions.”

“The planned reorganisation of health services in the county will see one Accident and Emergency department close.

“No one knows what’s going to happen to Ludlow Community Hospital over the next few years. It is important that we debate all these issues in public.”

Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North and chair of the Local Joint Committee believes that south Shropshire is being caught between NHS and council spending cuts.

“Rural areas seem to lose out time and time again when budgets are squeezed,” said Andy Boddington.

“Cuts to the health service could place significant strains on Shropshire Council’s adult services budget. I am also worried that cuts to the council’s budget could increase strains on the local health service.

“We must discuss these matters locally and make our views heard before decisions are made.”

Philip Dunne will be taking part as local Member of Parliament but also as an NHS Minister.

He will also be aware that concern about the town’s hospital and health services have increased since a planned £25 million hospital and health village on Ludlow Eco Park was lost at the 11th hour following changes to health service rules by a Government of which he was a member.

The meeting is jointly organised by Ludlow Town Council and Shropshire Council’s Ludlow and Clee Local Joint Committee.

It is at Ludlow Church of England School on Bromfield Road on Thursday, September 29 at 7pm.

Formal business for the LJC will begin at 6.30pm.