HEALTH chief Mike Ridley has warned Malvern people disappointment over the new hospital is inevitable.

The chairman of the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust was speaking after a trust meeting at which he denounced "hostility and opposition" to the consultation process.

Two new public meetings have been arranged at the Forum, Malvern Theatres, later this month for people to talk about the plans.

The 800-seat Forum has been booked after last Monday's meeting at the Abbey Hotel was called off due to fire regulations when hundreds of people turned up.

The new meetings are on Monday, February 21, at 7pm, and on Tuesday, February 22, at noon.

In a press statement released yesterday, Mr Ridley said: "It is vital that the proposed new hospital is affordable and this financial constraint will inevitably lead to disappointment, not least at the PCT.

"However, we must be realistic if we are to achieve our shared goal of a new modern hospital for Malvern.

"While I understand that there are different views about the site and more importantly content for the new hospital, it is essential to show that the PCT and people of Malvern are on the same side in bidding for support and for the new hospital business plan."

At a PCT meeting in Pershore on Wednesday, Mr Ridley asked board members if the consultation process should be called off because of "hostility and opposition", adding: "As far as the process is concerned there is not local support for the way forward."

He also asked members to confirm whether the Malvern hospital project should continue to take priority over other projects. He said there was significant need for modernised services in Evesham, Droitwich and Worcester, and GP premises across the county.

But board members agreed the consultation process should continue.

See Opinion, page 6.

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