THE body responsible for running Chard Hospital has been slammed as having ‘no intention to reopen beds’ after it was revealed that staffing numbers are less than half of what is needed.

The inpatient beds at Chard Hospital were shut in October 2017 amid outcry from the public, with more than 1,500 people signing a petition against the move.

At that time, the vacancy rate was put at 20 per cent, but now Somerset Partnership has said that the vacancy rate would be more than 50 per cent if they were to reopen the ward.

Phil Brice is the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s director of governance and corporate development.

He revealed the dire staffing figures at a recent meeting of Somerset County Council’s adults and health scrutiny committee.

“There will be a more detailed review in September when we look at the winter position,” he said.

“We’ll have another look at Chard in September, but it’s fair to say we are a distance away from reopening that.

“The vacancy rate at Chard is around 50 per cent – nurses have moved away to take different roles.”

In June 2018, the vacancy rate had dropped to 23 per cent with SomPar saying that a number of staff had taken up specialist roles at South Petherton Hospital, and that the dip would be temporary.

Despite that, the number vacancy rate would now be more than 50 per cent if the inpatient ward was to be reopened.

Amanda Broom, county councillor for Chard North, said: “I don’t think they have any intention reopening the beds at Chard Hospital.

“I will always hold out hope that they will reopen the ward.

“I would like to see figures about how many people they have recruited that have gone to other hospitals like South Petherton and Crewkerne.

“I personally know people who have been recruited for Chard Hospital who are then working at Crewkerne Hospital instead.

“This is devastating for Chard. It is the same with everything - the hospital, the pool - we always seem to be second priority.”

While the inpatient beds remain closed, the hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) and other facilities are still available to the public.

A spokesman for SomPar said: “We are very grateful to the local community of Chard who have borne with us during this period when we have not been able to safely run the inpatient beds at Chard Community Hospital.

“We have continued to recruit and monitor staffing levels across all our community hospitals to assess whether we can reopen any of our community hospital inpatient beds - but so far this has not been possible at Chard Community Hospital.

“Because of the relatively small number of inpatient beds, and therefore staff at Chard, the vacancy rate within the unit is vulnerable to fluctuation.”