A STAFF member at Kidderminster Hospital believes the 'axe is falling' as a stroke rehabilitation ward for the elderly is closed without warning.

After a meeting held last night (Wednesday), staff were told this morning (Thursday) that the Cookley ward would be closing to all new patients immediately because it was no longer safe.

However, a source from the hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, has said he has seen this pattern happen before, and that it would not be the last closure blow that would be seen at the Bewdley Road hospital, which is run by the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, the same trust which runs the Worcestershire Royal Hospital that has just received a damning CQC report criticising its A&E services.

He said: "They [the patients] need this ward. It's going to be disastrous.

"It's such a shame, and the problem is I was around when Kidderminster downsized. What they'll do next is they'll go for the Minor Injuries Unit. I have seen this pattern of behaviour.

"Worcestershire Royal Hospital are in such trouble that they might let Kidderminster take the hit. The axe is going to fall at Kidderminster."

But, a statement released by the trust has not supported these comments and simply stated the ward has closed as it "is no longer a suitable environment for inpatients" with the current 17 patients who are in the ward being moved to new wards or discharged to suitable care by July 10.

It said: "With immediate affect, Cookley ward will be closed to new admissions and all inpatients will be moved from the ward to more suitable accommodation by Friday, July 10.

"Over the next two weeks we will put plans in place for the ongoing treatment and support for each of the 17 patients currently on the ward. Some will be able to be discharged home or to nursing homes and those that need ongoing medical care will be looked after in other wards on the Kidderminster site.

"All staff affected are being informed of the closure and will be redeployed."

The future of the 17-bedded sub-acute ward, which catered for patients who needed on-going rehabilitation, is now uncertain as it will be kept under review, but a spokesman for the trust said both the Cookley ward and the GP unit at Kidderminster Hospital were likely to be taken over by the Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group later this year.