A NEW multi-million pound GP centre has officially been opened in Worcester.

The new £2m Henwick Halt Medical Centre was opened yesterday by the Government's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Prof Aidan Halligan, who unveiled a special plaque.

However, there were some red faces among staff and county health chiefs when the revealed plaque read: "Officially opened by Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer", who failed to attend the opening due to other commitments.

The surgery was the first of 12 new surgeries opening across South Worcestershire, thanks to the help of an Evening News campaign.

South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust planned 13 new or improved health centres over the next three years.

Five secured funding, including Henwick Halt, in Henwick Road, St John's, but eight were thrown into doubt as a result of Government funding changes, prompting a 1,500-signature "Save Our Surgeries" Evening News petition.

Seven of the suspended schemes were finally given the green light in June, with the eighth, to extend Pershore's Abbotswood Health Centre, still on ice.

Pershore cottage hospital decision

PERSHORE'S new medical centre and cottage hospital looks set to be given the final go-ahead tomorrow.

An application for the new hospital has been submitted by Wychavon District Council to itself, and councillors are being recommended to give it the go ahead.

The £6m development will be built next to Pershore's Civic Centre and will see the hospital and health centre combined under one roof in a two and three-storey building.

It would provide non-clinical care with up to 26 beds - seven more than the existing hospital. The integral General Practice Surgery will replace the existing facility on Priest Lane.

It is hoped that if planning permission is granted that building work would begin by next summer and the hospital would be up and running by spring 2006.