FORMER health minister and Ludlow MP Philip Dunne has welcomed the resolution of a dispute between a GP surgery and the NHS.

It came about after the Shropshire NHS Trust told Dr Catherine Beanland, a GP at the Portcullis Surgery, that her services were no longer required at the hospital in the town.

Dr Beanland had expressed concerns about safety and had worn personal protective clothing.

Now Mr Dunne has welcomed resolution of a disagreement between Dr Beanland and the NHS Trust that runs Ludlow Hospital, following disagreements about personal protective equipment.

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, which runs Ludlow Hospital, continues to adhere to all national guidance on the use of personal protective equipment but has agreed that general practitioners working on community hospital wards should adopt additional infection control procedures given their greater exposure to patients in the community.

“I am very pleased to learn that this unfortunate issue has been satisfactorily resolved,” said Mr Dunne.

“This will maintain the continued full support of all NHS clinicians in Ludlow to helping look after patients in Ludlow and the surrounding area in all NHS settings at this critical time. Now is the time when we need to be working together to do all we can to beat this virus and save lives.

“I joined other MPs with local authority and NHS leaders in a briefing at which we discussed availability of PPE in the county.

“We have contacted the health secretary to press for supplies of masks and gloves with sufficient availability for primary care, care home and other settings supporting the vulnerable, homeless and those shielding.”

The row came as pressure increased on the government to sort out the problem of getting special protective equipment to front line staff and putting into place testing.