Longridge residents are still ‘searching for answers’ over the future of the town’s community hospital, the Ribble Valley’s MP has claimed.
Longridge Community Hospital, which sits off Derby Road, faces an uncertain future after being closed due to fire safety concerns last year.
The inpatient ward at the hospital was eventually closed because of fire-safety concerns at the end of November 2025, after earlier seeing its 15-bed unit reduced to five beds after inspections revealed that the two-storey building posed risk in evacuations — especially for older or less mobile patients.
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However, the move sparked anger among local residents and another protest was held last week to again highlight the impact of the closure, which has seen patients moved to Chorley.
Ribble Valley Labour MP Maya Ellis met with members of the Help Save Longridge Community Hospital campaign group this week and vowed to fight their corner.
She said: “Residents feel left in the dark over the partial closure of Longridge hospital and are searching for answers about its long-term future. I met with campaigners this week to discuss their concerns over the temporary relocation of inpatient beds to Chorley.
“I’ve remained in contact with Lancashire ICB since patients were moved and I’m awaiting a timeline of investigations and decision making so people have some clarity.”
Maya said the was clear anger over how the situation has been handled and concerns are mounting over the strain on patients’ relatives, many of them elderly, and the distance they now need to travel to Chorley for hospital visiting.
She added: “It’s clear there’s been a communications problem and I’m pushing for transparency in response to the community’s feedback.
“I’ve invited the ICB to a public meeting to allow residents to hear directly from those who use the hospital’s services and I’m hoping to get a date in the diary as soon as possible.”
In its latest update on 5 March, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust said initial feedback from those who had been moved to Chorley had been positive.
It added: “At present, the NHS is exploring what is possible in line with the fire safety concerns which were previously identified, any potential timescales for such and also the possible cost impact, while considering best value for taxpayers’ money and that patients have access to the services they need in a safe and appropriate location. This will take some time.
“We know the depth of feeling about the facility in the local community, its impact and the pride local people take in this hospital, as well as those who work there but we must reiterate that the safety of our patients and colleagues will always be our utmost priority.”
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