FIVE of the 10 beds that were closed at Launceston Hospital on November 1 are to be reopened by mid-January.

Kevin Baber, chief executive of Peninsula Health, the company that runs Cornish hospitals on behalf of the NHS, along with Jo Beer, locality manager for East Cornwall, addressed concerns of Launceston Town Council at the full town council meeting on Tuesday, November 20.

At the start of his presentation he explained he wanted to deal "with the elephant in the room". He said: "There is no agenda to close Launceston Hospital, you have my assurance. The hospital is needed by the community and county wide."

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post.