IN a new twist to the story of Biggleswade Hospital and its feared closure the facility admitted two patients earlier this week.
There were doubts as to whether any more patients would be admitted after the last two patients reportedly left the hospital on Monday, July 9.
The Biggleswade Chronicle has thrown its weight behind a campaign to save the hospital.
Petitioners fighting to save the hospital have now collected more than 6,000 signatures.
North East Beds MP Alistair Burt has already been presented with 5,500 of these signatures, which in turn were passed to Health Secretary and South Cambs MP Andrew Lansley.
Ken Lynch and Ian Pettitt will be in Biggleswade Market Square from 9.30am to 12.30pm tomorrow (Saturday) to collect more names.
A spokesman for SEPT, the care provider, said: “Our residential rehabilitation service based at Biggleswade remains open to people across Bedfordshire who fit the admission criteria agreed with NHS Bedfordshire.
“Currently there are two patients being treated at Biggleswade.
“Referrals of patients to our community based rehabilitation teams have increased significantly over the past year while referrals to the residential services have decreased. This seems to reflect patients’ choice as more people prefer to receive care in their own home whenever possible.”
Biggleswade Hospital provides adult physical rehabilitation services. It is also a base for other community physical and mental health care staff and houses the GP out-of-hours service.