SHIPSTON Town Council has expressed concern at the decision to temporarily close two wards at the town's Ellen Badger Hospital.

Warwickshire Primary Care Trust said it has been forced to close the 12 beds temporarily due to staff shortages.

But town mayor Alan Noyce said the town council is unhappy with the move, which it feels could cause hardship for patients and their families over Christmas.

"The council wasn't too happy. It's our local hospital," said Cllr Noyce.

"It could make a lot of difference to the people of Shipston over Christmas. Families will have to travel to Warwick Hospital to visit members of their family in hospital," he added.

But Warwickshire PCT community services managing director Jill Freer said: "We have taken the decision to close temporarily 12 beds at Ellen Badger Community Hospital, Shipston-on-Stour, due to a shortage of staff.

"This decision was taken solely in the interests of the safety of our patients - not for financial reasons - and the wards will reopen as soon as possible."

Ms Freer said the trust is currently seeking to recruit for 11 staff vacancies at the hospital, including a qualified nurse, healthcare assistants catering assistants and housekeepers.

"While we had been using some temporary agency staffing, we needed to fill these permanently. As soon as appointments are in post we will reopen the wards," she said.

She added that, in the meantime, as well as being able to use the 20 beds at the Ellen Badger that are still in use, patients requiring access to a community hospital bed in South Warwickshire will be able to use the trust's other community hospital facilities.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused to patients or their families and can assure them we are making every effort to reopen the wards as soon as staffing numbers are back to a safe level," said Ms Freer.