Campaigners have come up with a rescue plan to try and save a Northumberland hospital ward from closing.
The 12-bed inpatient ward at Rothbury Community Hospital, which provides round-the-clock treatment for patients, was temporarily shut in September after it was found to be “under-used”.
The NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group is expected to carry out a formal consultation over its future early next year, meaning the ward could be closed until Easter.
Now members of the Save Rothbury Hospital Campaign group (SRHC) are hoping to persuade the CCG to reopen the ward by suggesting it should also provide social and palliative care.