RESIDENTS in a Hampshire town are demanding a guarantee that health chiefs will reopen a cottage hospital at the heart of the community.

Fordingbridge Hospital has closed its doors to all new inpatients after a member of staff was suspended over allegations surrounding "quality of care". Alan Lewendon, the Mayor of Fording-bridge, has written a letter of protest to Gareth Cruddace, chief executive of Hampshire Primary Care Trust.

Councillor Lewendon, whose wife is a nurse at the hospital, has joined New Forest MPs in accusing NHS bosses of using backdoor methods to shut the hospital permanently.

The complex comprises several outpatient clinics and an inpatient facility called Ford Ward.

The outpatient clinics are open as normal but no new patients are being admitted to Ford Ward, which looks after people recuperating locally following treatment at other hospitals.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, admissions have been halted following the suspension of a staff member.

Cllr Lewendon's letter says: "I feel sure most of the inhabitants of Fordingbridge and its surrounding villages, have a strong suspicion that this is an attempt to close the hospital by stealth.

"Ford Ward is a vital asset to this area of Hampshire. With a large pensionable and increasingly ageing population we have a desperate need for the type of care which Ford Ward provides.

"Accessibility to Salisbury hospital is difficult for the elderly, with only two direct buses a day, and your new flagship hospital at Lymington might just as well be on another planet.

"Please may I have your personal assurance that it will not close?"

New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne said: "I acknowledge that serious allegations have been made and have to be investigated but I don't believe this justifies the decision, in effect, to close the hospital."

Mr Swayne said serious allegations were made against two members of staff a couple of years ago, resulting in the closure of several beds.

He added: "No charges or disciplinary action resulted but the beds were never reopened.

"Supporters of the community hospital must be vigilant to ensure that the quite proper investigation of allegations is not used as a cover for running down and closing Fordingbridge Hospital.

"If there is any suggestion of this happening I hope the people of Fordingbridge and the New Forest will rise to the challenge."

Mr Cruddace said: "We strongly refute any claims that the actions we have taken are an attempt to close Fordingbridge Hospital by the back door.

"Until the outcome of the inquiry and its recommendations we can not predict what actions might need to be taken."