INPATIENT services at Moretonhampstead Community Hospital have once again become a victim of NHS managers' failure to ensure safe conditions on the ward.

Bosses at the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust have announced that from tomorrow all six beds will be closed 'indefinitely'. They blamed the move on staff shortages. .

Dr John Coop, associate medical director, said: 'Despite our best efforts to put in place a resilient staffing model for the inpatient bed, the challenge of providing a safe and sustainable clinical service in such a rurally isolated unit has proved too great.' .

The latest closure comes just weeks after the six of the nine beds re-opened following an eight-month break in service which began in January. In August the trust claimed it had made 'considerable progress in addressing the significant quality and patient safety concerns' and was able to re-open part of the ward. .

Today Dr Coop said: 'On reopening the beds in August we urged caution that the unit was still vulnerable to short-term staffing changes. 'The issues around the staffing and sustainability of small community hospitals has long been recognised by the NHS. .

'The community will be aware that we have tried our level best to get this unit back open and staffed sustainably.' The trust's director of nursing has sent a letter to the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the body which 'buys' the service, outlining the reasons for the closure. .

It said services such as community nursing, community therapy and 'rapid response' would be laid on to assist the 'very few patients' affected by the closure. Those requiring admission would go to Okehampton Community Hospital. .

The CCG's Dr Alex Degan said: 'We acknowledge the effort the trust has put in to keep the unit open safely with the right ratio of staff but a mix of geography and operational difficulties have meant this has been a difficult task. .

'The recent instability of the service is a concern to all and despite the trust's efforts it is clear there are continuing factors affecting the delivery of service. .

'Our duty is to commission services which adequately meet the healthcare needs of the local community and this will form the backbone of how we commission services for this community in future.' Clinics and outpatient sessions will continue as normal