SUPPORTERS of a Hampshire hospital that has closed to new patients were to demand answers today at a meeting with health chiefs.

Admissions to Fordingbridge Hospital have been suspended following complaints about the quality of care at the facility, which treats pensioners from across the New Forest.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Forest MPs say they fear the controversial move could be a backdoor method of closing the hospital.

Gareth Cruddace, chief executive of Hampshire Primary Care Trust, has agreed to meet Dr Christine Hensel, vice-chairman of the Friends of Fordingbridge Hospital, today.

Dr Hensel was due to be joined by Dr Miranda Whitehead, a Fordingbridge district councillor and retired GP. The pair want to know why the hospital is not accepting any new patients and when the restriction is likely to be lifted.

"The reason being given for the decision to suspend in-patient admissions is the disproportionate number of complaints that have been received," said Dr Hensel.

"However, patients have been shipped across the Forest from places such as Lymington and Milford on Sea and end up a long way from home. They are unhappy and likely to complain about the least little thing.

"The staff are dealing with people who don't want to be there."

Patients treated at Fordingbridge in recent years have included pensioners recuperating after treatment elsewhere, including Salisbury District Hospital.

Dr Hensel added: "The trust says it's had trouble filling beds with local people but consultants at Salisbury say they haven't been able to get Fordingbridge people into Fordingbridge Hospital, which is ludicrous."

The hospital is currently caring for 12 people, who will be discharged as and when they are able to leave.

The decision to suspend the admission of new inpatients was taken last week after the trust received what it describes as a "very serious" complaint.

However the Daily Echo understands that problems at the hospital started to emerge at least three months ago.

A hospital source said: "Two members of staff were suspended in July but no specific charges were brought against them.

"Three weeks ago both were offered re-instatement, with conditions attached. One decided not to accept the trust's offer and is currently awaiting developments."

Another source claimed that expensive agency staff had been brought in to work alongside senior nurses.

A trust spokesman said: "The recent measures at the hospital were prompted by complaints about the quality of care in regard to patients' dignity and respect.

"We take all such complaints very seriously and acted swiftly by introducing senior clinical leadership at the hospital.

"In the first instance it was necessary to employ some agency staff while we were in discussion with neighbouring trusts about securing senior staff to work at Fording-bridge. There are still some agency nurses working on the inpatient ward but they are employed on a short-term basis only."