A VITAL Droitwich service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing has been saved.

Concerns were raised about the future of the service in the town if funds were not found to sound-proof a room at the new £6 million Droitwich Spa Medical Centre.

But the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT) has revealed that work would go ahead and the service would remain in Droitwich without patients having to travel to Worcester, Kidderminster or Redditch for appointments.

The decision, announced at a PCT trust board meeting yesterday, sparked sighs of relief from representatives of the Droitwich Spa Area Forum For Older People where key representatives had turned up to hand in a petition with 500 names, young and old, against stopping the service.

PCT chairman Bryan Smith said fears over the future of the service were based on a “misunderstanding” and apologised to members of the forum for a wasted journey after Lola Abudu, the PCT’s director of planning and partnership, confirmed at the meeting that the service had been formally re-instated.

Sheila Neary, forum secretary Jill Edwards, Sheila Price and Trevor Heath, all of Droitwich, said they were thrilled and relieved that the service would remain after they were shown a note at the health centre which said the last clinic would be held on Friday, November 28.

Sheila Neary, speaking on behalf of the forum, said any decision to end the audiology service, which had run at the old health centre, would mean long journeys for people from Droitwich and the 17 outlying villages round about such as Hanbury and Hampton Lovett.

She said many of the people relied on public transport but said she was glad she had spoken up for the people of the town.

Mrs Edwards said: “It’s absolutely wonderful – from being told it’s going to close we’re now told they’re going to reinstate it and possibly improve it as well.”

Peter Pinfield, a non-executive director, said after the meeting: “We have a new £6 million health centre with really good facilities.

“The question was asked ‘how can you spend £6 million on a brand new building and not include audiology services?’ It must continue and it will continue in Droitwich.

“For hundreds of people it’s vital in the Droitwich area.

“We want to improve the service and expand it which is what the PCT have said which is good news for every user.

“The NHS has been accused of not listening. Here is a case where it has listened.”