THE developer of the new Ledbury Community Hospital, Shaw Homes (HA) Ltd, is opening an information office in New Street on Monday (October 1).

This will give people an insight into the kind of service they can expect from the hospital, which is scheduled to open this March.

Visitors to the information office will be able see the hospital plans and a mock-up of a typical bedroom, discuss employment opportunities and arrange fact-finding visits to the building site itself.

The opening of the information office has been timed to coincide with National Older People Day.

Afterwards, the facility will be open seven days a week, from 10am to 4pm, until further notice.

A general manager has already been appointed for the new hospital by Shaw Homes subsidiary, Ledbury Health.

Diane Rudge comes to the position from a background with the NHS.

She is trained in both general and psychiatric nursing and has been involved with elderly care for the past six years, during which time she has also been a senior manager for Shaw Homes.

She said: "I'm excited by this wonderful opportunity to bring a first-class service to the heart of the community.

"It will be a service for, and in partnership, with local people."

Ledbury's new Community Hospital is being designed as a "one-stop shop" for health facilities, incorporating primary, intermediate and long-term care.

Located on the old Cattle Market site, it will offer a total of 60 beds, with 14 of those dedicated to the NHS.