THE inpatient ward at a Herefordshire community hospital is to temporarily close on "patient safety grounds".

Wye Valley NHS Trust says it will close the 14-bed ward at Bromyard Community Hospital by September 11.

The Trust's chief executive, Richard Beeken, put the blame on understaffing, saying Herefordshire's rural nature is hindering recruitment campaigns.

The decision will be reviewed in three months.

But one of the town's county councillors, Cllr Alan Seldon, said the news is a kick in the teeth to staff.

"I'm deeply suspicious," said the It's Our County member.

"I've asked for an urgent meeting with the Trust.

"It's a kick in the teeth for the loyal staff that have manned the unit through all the virus outbreaks and staff upheaval."

Cllr Seldon said although the closure has been labelled temporary, he understands staff are being redeployed.

"That doesn't sound temporary to me," he said.

"I think this is a symptom of the greater recruitment process. It's another layer of service that is being taken from Bromyard."

A staff member at the hospital, who didn't want to be named, told the Hereford Times the news was "a massive shock".

In a statement, Mr Beeken said the ward will re-open as soon as staffing levels pick up.

"This is not a position we would want to find ourselves in,” he said.

"However, it is symptomatic of the staff shortage faced by NHS Trusts right across the country.

"The situation is made worse in Herefordshire due to the rurality of the county which means it does not have the 'big city' appeal many of the bigger hospitals have.

"All NHS Trusts are trying to recruit out of the same small pool of nurses - this is a national issue.

"Unfortunately, despite a number of successful recruitment campaigns, we are still short of qualified nurses."

He said no patients had been harmed due to the staff shortage.

"We're sure patients would rather have safe care in Hereford County Hospital than be at potential risk of harm in an understaffed Bromyard Community Hospital," he added.

"The impact on local people will be minimal, as the 14-bedded inpatient ward is used predominantly for step-down care for patients following acute admission at Hereford County Hospital.

“We still have a community hospital in the north of the county, at Leominster, and the full range of outpatient clinics will continue to run at Bromyard Community as normal."