'We feel forgotten as hospital plans to shut ward'

People in Rugby say they feel "forgotten" as they prepare for a second demonstration in protest over the planned closure of a hospital ward.

Hundreds of people are expected to march through the Warwickshire town on Saturday, over plans for changes at the Hospital of St Cross.

The hospital's Hoskyn Ward, accounting for 25 out of 110 beds on the site, is earmarked to close on 4 December.

Under the plans, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust has said it has ambitious plans to redevelop the hospital and provide a high quality environment for staff and patients.

Prof Andy Hardy, UHCW's chief executive, previously said that following a review the hospital no longer needed the current number of inpatient beds.

He added the closure was in direct response to a reduction of transfers to the hospital and the trust was committed to "developing and investing in services".

However, councillor Maggie O’Rourke, from Rugby Borough Council, said people in the town were "totally frustrated."

"We feel that Rugby has been forgotten, there's lots of things that need to be addressed," she said.

"We've been overlooked because of where we are."

A previous march over the decision to close the ward in October attracted hundreds of people who were frustrated over the way changes to the hospital were being implemented.

"Time and time again there is no consultation, there's no communication from our trust to the people of Rugby," march organiser Thomas Crinigan said.

"We don't hear nothing, all we're hearing is that services are being cut."

Julie Weekes, from Keep Our NHS Public, told the BBC the ward closure was "big concern" ahead of the pressure on services over the winter.

"Clearly the people who are affected most in the winter are those who are vulnerable and particularly the elderly and yet we're going to have 25 beds fewer for those people," she said.

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