A third adult ward has opened at Coalville Community Hospital, the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust announced today (Friday).

This will be designed for rehabilitation and continued health care for up to 15 patients to enable them to maximise their recovery - and enable them to take their next step whether that be home, residential or care home.

The hospital, which is run by the Trust, also has a dedicated stroke ward, and a general ward providing sub-acute, rehabilitation and end of life care.

Sam Leak, director of LPT's community health services, said: "This is great news for patients and their families.

"It will help the NHS across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to support patients in the most appropriate locations, and maximise their potential to get them home.

"The 15 beds at Coalville come on top of a new ward in Loughborough and an additional five beds we opened in Hinckley this winter to deal with increased patient numbers.

"We have an ongoing campaign to recruit the 225 staff for the additional 52 beds across our network of community hospitals."

LPT is still recruiting staff for its community hospitals across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Posts include ones for healthcare support workers, registered nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and administrative staff.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) provides community health, mental health and learning disabilities services for the one million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

It has a budget in excess of £395 million and employs approximately 7,100 staff.