THERE are now just four in-patients left in crisis-stricken Fordingbridge Hospital where two more members of staff were suspended on October 30 as a result of an external investigation.

And that means some nursing and care staff are being offered alternative jobs elsewhere in the New Forest.

Some may be going to the new Lymington New Forest Hospital which has just re-opened 12 beds at its 36-bed Longbeech Ward.

Hampshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) has stressed the four remaining patients will not be moved out of Fordingbridge Hospital's Ford Ward until they are well enough to leave.

The investigation follows allegations from patients and relatives centred on quality of care in Ford Ward.

Managers decided to call a halt to any new admissions there until an investigation was carried out. That led to fears in the community that Fordingbridge Hospital was to shut.

The charges are strenuously denied by the PCT.

Ann Smith, director of operations for Hampshire PCT, has now told the Daily Echo: "At the moment we have four in-patients at Fordingbridge Hospital due to the temporary closure to new admissions.

"This means we now have more staff than we need to care for these patients.

"We are therefore working very closely with our staff around possible temporary redeployment with another team at a different site.

"Options being offered to staff include working with our community services and at any of our other hospitals, including Romsey Hospital, Hythe War Memorial Hospital, Milford-on-Sea War Memorial Hospital and Lymington New Forest Hospital.

"We will ensure we meet any individual needs our staff may have and will provide opportunities for staff to update their skills and have personal development wherever possible.

"Should Ford Ward temporarily close for a period of time we will use this opportunity to give the ward a deep clean."

Monica Harris, director of operations at Lymington New Forest Hospital, said: "We have now recruited some extra staff and have transferred staff from other parts of the hospital so we can staff 12 more beds on Longbeech Ward.

"This means we can provide more rehabilitation for people in the local community, including elderly patients with particular medical needs.

"We hope this will relieve pressure on other parts of the health community and will mean that local people can be treated closer to their homes."