Shepton Mallet ward closure legal challenge threat

Article from BBC news, 1 November 2017

Health campaigners are trying to raise money to mount a legal challenge to the closure of community hospital’s inpatient ward.

Somerset Partnership NHS Trust has closed the ward at Shepton Mallet due to nurse shortages.

Campaigners say the trust should have held a formal consultation.

But health bosses say they want to avoid sudden closures in the winter as were seen at Minehead in 2016.

The ward at Shepton Mallet will close on 2 November, when the last few patients have been discharged or transferred.

Other services at the hospital, including minor injuries units and outpatients, will remain open.