MP is called in over hospital

Mr Wiggin said he has been approached by 12 people, some of whom are former employees of hospital operator Shaw Homes.

Mr Wiggin said he wanted to be satisfied that Shaw was meeting the terms of its contract. He has approached the DoH to request details of the commercial arrangement with the NHS.

"There is a great deal of concern about the hospital and the way it's being run," he said.

He added that some of the concerns raised are over staffing of the £4.3 million facility, although he would not be more specific saying discussions are confidential.

"It's staffing levels, the way staff are being treated, the way the job's being done," he said. "It's not one specific thing."

He said that the next step will be to pay a visit to the hospital to see the situation for himself.

Meanwhile Shaw has invited Ledbury Town Council to a meeting on Tuesday, February 18, to answer questions and outline its plans for the future.

The council is known to be one of the complain-ants to Mr Wiggin.

Stephen Crisp, regional manager for Shaw, said at regular meetings with the Primary Care Trust there has been no suggestion that the company was in breach of its contract in its running of the hospital.

In a separate development Shaw has announ-ced it will be increasing fees for residents in its nursing home, which shares the same site as the hospital.

Fees have gone up to £475 a week, an increase of £25 or just over five per cent, with effect from April 1.

Mr Crisp said the move was down to an increase in operating costs.

"Our business has incre-asing costs," he said. "It has to meet those costs."

There is a clause in the contract for nursing home beds that allows Shaw to review the fees on an annual basis.

He described the prices as "still very competitive within the local market".

Meanwhile Shaw has announced plans to hold an open day and exhibition to celebrate its first anniversary in April.