Wellington Community Hospital in Bulford is to re-open to inpatients today (Thursday) now that a ward sister has been recruited.

County and town councillor Andrew Govier was told of the news in an email from Phil Brice, Director of Governance and Corporate Development at Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Brice said: “As you know, the ward at Wellington Community Hospital was temporarily closed last year for urgent repairs.

“In October the temporary closure was extended to support the opening of extra stroke beds to cope with an increase in the number of stroke patients in West Somerset.”

Cllr Govier, who has raised the issue at the county council’s health scrutiny committee, has welcomed the news.

He said: “I am delighted that the hospital inpatient ward is going to re-open. I have worked closely with the excellent League of Friends to ensure that the matter was addressed as quickly as possible.

“It was frustrating that there was a delay to the re-opening but patient safety must be paramount.”

For more on this story, see this week’s Wellington Weekly News.