A campaign to save a hospital aftercare service has received the backing of a Norfolk MP who is urging health leaders to reopen the centre.

Benjamin Court reablement service, in Cromer, closed in June this year.

It provided short-stay care beds for people well enough to be discharged from hospital but not well enough to return home.

However, Norfolk County Council closed its doors as part of plans to offer a similar care service at people’s homes instead.

North Norfolk News: Benjamin Court, CromerBenjamin Court, Cromer (Image: Newsquest)

Now, North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker has thrown his support behind a campaign to save the service by welcoming Norfolk’s health leaders to visit Benjamin Court last Friday (November 17).

Tracey Bleakley, the chief executive of Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) was part of the party who visited the centre.

A feasibility study into the future of Benjamin Court is expected to take place in the new year.  

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North Norfolk News: Around 100 members of the Save Benjamin Court campaign marched in Cromer in OctoberAround 100 members of the Save Benjamin Court campaign marched in Cromer in October (Image: Martin Booth)

“I am really pleased to get this attention from the ICB,” Mr Baker, who also showed senior members of the ICB around Cromer Hospital, said.

“Even more importantly, they do seem to now recognise the strength of feeling to save Benjamin Court for future healthcare needs in north Norfolk.

“My concern has always been to bring more services to Cromer Hospital. It does a phenomenal job in our local area, but I want to bring more services here to save people such long and expensive journeys all the way to the Norfolk and Norwich.

“We did this with mental health clinics, but I want to go further. It feels positive that the ICB are looking at what future services Cromer can offer.”

READ MORE: Benjamin Court Cromer campaign backed by Healthwatch Norfolk

North Norfolk News: North Norfolk MP Duncan BakerNorth Norfolk MP Duncan Baker (Image: Newsquest)

In October, around 100 Save Benjamin Court campaigners marched through Cromer, and reviews of Benjamin Court which were obtained by Healthwatch Norfolk and published earlier this month called for the service to reopen.

North Norfolk News: The meeting at Benjamin Court, in Cromer, last Friday (November 19)The meeting at Benjamin Court, in Cromer, last Friday (November 19) (Image: Duncan Baker)