BISHOPS Castle Community Hospital has reopened – after a three-month closure for essential maintenance work.

The hospital closed its doors at the end of July 2017 to allow the work, which included the laying of new flooring, to take place.

During this time, a pilot project called Home First – aimed at helping patients to receive more care in the community without the need for a hospital admission – was run.

The first patients are back in the hospital that provides in-patient care for people who do not require an acute hospital bed in Shrewsbury or Telford but are not considered well enough to go home.

This could include people who have had surgery and are in the process of recovering as well as those who have suffered from falls or injuries that need time to get better before the person leaves.

“We have always been clear that the hospital will reopen at the earliest possible opportunity,” said Steve Gregory, Director of Nursing at the Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust.

“Staff at the hospital have already had a chance to see the new look, and I am sure patients will agree the work that has been done is a big improvement when they get to see it too.”

The Home First pilot has been an innovative project that has seen hospital staff working with colleagues from the local GP practice and was given the full support of the local patient group.