A WARD at Minehead Community Hospital is set to reopen six months after a recruitment shortage caused its closure. 

The inpatient ward was closed in December 2016 after Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust found it difficult to recruit nurses in West Somerset. 

The beds were consolidated into Williton Community Hospital. 

The ward is set to reopen on July 11 after a recruitment drive has seen the return on safer staffing levels. 

Andy Heron, Somerset Partnership's chief operating officer, said: “I am delighted that we can now re-open the ten hospital beds and bring our staff back to Minehead Community Hospital.

“Recruitment has taken longer than expected, and it remains difficult to recruit nursing staff while a national shortage of nurses continues. But thanks to Matron Norma Coombes and local staff who have made time to attend and host recruitment events, we now have enough nursing staff to safely re-open beds in Minehead Community Hospital.

“Deciding to close the hospital on a temporary basis was a difficult decision but it was one made in the best interests of patient safety. I am grateful to our staff at Minehead and Williton Community Hospitals who made the move seamless and to our patients and the local community for their patience.”

The temporary closure was for the inpatient ward only. The other services including day services, minor injuries unit and outpatient appointments continued as normal.