ONLY four patients remain at the crisis-hit Fordingbridge Hospital and nursing and care staff are being offered alternative jobs at other New Forest locations.

The hospital's doors have been closed to new admissions amid allegations from patients and families surrounding the quality of care in Ford Ward, giving rise to fears across the community that moves are afoot to close the facility "by stealth".

Hampshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) has strenuously denied this is the case but has refused to give a guarantee that the in-patient ward will eventually re-open.

This week Ann Smith, director of operations with the PCT, said: "At the moment we have four in-patients at Fordingbridge Hospital due to the temporary closure to new admissions.

"This means we now have more staff than we need to care for these patients.

"We are therefore working very closely with our staff around possible temporary redeployment with another team at a different site.

"Options being offered to staff include working with our community services and at any of our other hospitals, including Romsey Hospital, Hythe War Memorial Hospital, Milford-on-Sea War Memorial Hospital and Lymington New Forest Hospital.

"We will ensure we meet any individual needs our staff may have and will provide opportunities for staff to update their skills and have personal development wherever possible.

"Should Ford Ward temporarily close for a period of time we will use this opportunity to give the ward a deep clean."

The PCT is currently carrying out an investigation into the allegations about quality of care and three staff members have been suspended.

Twelve extra beds are now being provided at Lymington, where more care is being provided for rehabilitation for people in the local community, particularly the elderly, and the PCT has stressed the remaining four patients at Fordingbridge will not be moved until they are well enough to leave.

A community campaign with the Forest Journal won the hospital a reprieve two years ago and people are again rallying around to ensure the service is offers is not lost.

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