WYRE Forest residents are being asked for their suggestions to name a new 16-bed ward at Kidderminster Hospital.

The new ward, which will be run by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, will replace the doomed GP Unit at the site, which the Shuttle revealed in March, is due to close later this year.

Earlier this year, the trust had plans approved to provide the new ward, on the site of Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre, which will support the local health and care system to provide more care and treatment closer to home and to alleviate pressure on acute sites.

The new ward is on track to open in October and residents are being asked to provide their suggestions for a new name. The trust will then create a shortlist of names, with the staff who will work on the ward choosing the preferred option ahead of the opening.

Jan Austin, the trust's lead for community care in Wyre Forest, said: "The new ward is a really important part of the overall offer we are providing to our more vulnerable patients in the area and will complement the other services we are providing in the community.

"It is better, where possible, to treat people as close to home as possible and where we can we want this to be the place where people live, however when admission is needed this ward will provide a short-term support which will hopefully help people get better and return home quicker.

"The ward will be an important piece in the jigsaw and we want the local community to get behind it and play a part in choosing its name. We hope to receive some great suggestions but even the less conventional will be considered."

Suggestions can be sent to whcnhs.communications@nhs.net by Friday, August 26. The winning name will be announced in September.