TWO more members of staff at Fordingbridge Hospital have been suspended from duty, bringing the total to three.

The Daily Echo understands the suspensions took place at the town centre hospital on Tuesday.

On October 12 Hampshire Primary Care Trust stopped new admissions to Ford Ward, which caters mainly for the care and rehabilitation of older patients.

The refusal to admit new patients followed the suspension of a member of staff over allegations surrounding the quality of care from patients and relatives.

An external investigation into the treatment of patients there was promised by Primary Care Trust (PCT) chief executive Gareth Cruddace.

That is now thought to have started, resulting in the latest suspensions.

Katrina Percy, Hampshire PCT director of care services, said: "It has recently been necessary to take action at Fordingbridge Hospital following allegations about the quality of patient care.

"This began with an internal investigation and an external investigation has also been instigated to ensure all aspects of inpatient care at the hospital are thoroughly scrutinised.

"We are keeping the situation under constant review and are taking appropriate action to ensure we are vigilant in safeguarding patients being cared for at Fordingbridge."

There have been concerns that refusing new admissions was an attempt to shut down the hospital, one of several under threat that were given a reprieve after a major campaign led by the New Forest's two MPs Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) and Julian Lewis (East).

Mr Cruddace has recently reiterated his message that there is no attempt to close down the hospital.

He said that: "In the past few months we have had five complaints about quality of care at Fordingbridge, far more than at our other community hospitals".