MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferers have launched a petition calling on health bosses to save a hospital rehabilitation ward.

The Durban Rehabilitation Centre at Clacton Hospital was opened to relieve bed-blocking at Colchester General Hospital.

However, the 15-bed ward will be axed in June.

An alternative service will be provided by Anglian Community Enterprise at Corner Lodge and Corner House care homes in Clacton.

Sheila Avery, chairman of Clacton MS Society, said: “I was a patient at the ward for two weeks and could not fault the care I received.

“I could not walk, so I could not stay at home because I live alone. The set-up at Durban ward is ideal for this sort of care and others I spoke to on the ward felt the same.

“They did not want to end up in a home, even if it was on a temporary basis.”

The rehabilitation centre was set up for patients fit enough to leave an acute hospital, such as Colchester General Hospital, but who were in need of further support before being discharged.

Gary Sweeney, chairman of North-East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are just switching it from a temporary base at Clacton Hospital, where we took advantage of the available empty beds that became freed up temporarily during a redesign of other services, to being permanently commissioned from experts in reablement care in the community at two care homes."

The petition can be found at Clacton Hospital, Bradwell’s Cafe, inHigh Street, Clacton, and in other shops around the town.

Read the full story in the Clacton Gazette.