SOMERSET Partnership has said it has received 'very strong and clear messages from some patients and the public', but plans to go ahead with the closure of Chard Hospital's inpatient beds anyway.

The Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust board had a meeting earlier this week in which they discussed the planned closures of Hcard Hospital and Shepton Mallet Hospital.

Following the meeting on Tuesday (October 24), a spokesman for the trust said the board come together "to discuss its decision and to reflect on the very strong and clear messages we have received from some patients and the public in both Shepton Mallet and Chard about the action we have planned to take."

The spokesman added: "In taking this approach, the trust has been keen to balance the immediate patient safety issues we are facing and the need to take urgent action with the benefits of taking on board the public's views.

“The Board considered whether the patient safety situation has changed since the date of the original decision, reviewed the feedback from the public engagement to date and whether this presents factors that have not previously been taken into account and which may present alternative viable solutions, and looked at the current position around recruitment efforts to address the problem.

“The board has asked for some further information which will be completed by October 31, 2017, but the intention remains to proceed with the temporary closures as planned.”

So far more than 3,600 people have signed a petition calling for a secure future for the hospital.

Earlier this week, the News revealed where Chard Hospital's patients will be made to go, and which other facilities will be forced to take the strain.

For the full story on that, click here.