HEALTH chiefs are using criticism of the consultation process for a new community hospital to ''wriggle'' out of committing to the scheme, West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer has claimed.

Sir Michael has written to South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust chief executive Mike Ridley making the accusations over the project.

He said the trust's claims there was hostility towards the consultation process were unfounded and that its subsequent threat to abort the scheme left the project in doubt.

The latest chapter in the continuing saga follows Malvern Hills District Council's decision to withdraw its offer to the trust of its Pickersleigh Road depot site for the scheme to focus on the Seaford Court site.

The local authority had offered the trust part of its Pickersleigh Road depot for a new health centre on the condition it builds a new community hospital.

In his letter to Mr Ridley, Sir Michael said the fact the trust was threatening to withdraw from the project over the perceived hostility to the consultation process led him to have ''little faith'' in anything it said about the hospital.

He said the PCT had also promised a business plan would be available by Christmas - yet it had not been received - and that it should now deliver on its promises to ensure people it would go ahead.

"I fervently hope the trust will now rapidly come up with a concrete proposal for a new hospital in Malvern on the Seaford Court site," said Sir Michael.

Mr Ridley was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.