The hospital could be turned into a specialist care facility

The hospital closed just before Christmas due to staff holidays and an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

The 12-bed unit has yet to reopen and people in Wells are being asked to attend a meeting in the village to support the hospital.

Staffing problems have closed the hospital in the past and locals fear that it may be closed down permanently.

It has been proposed that the hospital, which is managed by the North Norfolk Primary Care Trust, be kept open as a specialist treatment centre for cardiac or cancer patients.

Joyce Trett, the mayor of Wells, said staffing in the rural community can be a problem but the hospital should not be written off.

She said: "It's not an old, traditional hospital... it's very modern in the equipment that it has and it's very well-managed and well-respected."

Supporters are being invited to the meeting at 1900 GMT at the Maltings community centre in Staithe Street.