STALLED plans to extend a medical centre in Pershore could still go ahead after all, a report has revealed.

South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust has regularly hit the headlines since February after it made the shocking announcement that it was being forced to suspend eight county projects for new or improved GP surgeries because of Government funding changes.

The news was met with outrage from county GPs, politicians and worried residents and prompted the Evening News to launch a petition demanding Prime Minister Tony Blair ensure the proposals acquired financial backing.

Our petition, which received more than 1,500 signatures, proved a success and earlier this month the PCT announced seven of the eight schemes were now in the pipeline for funding.

However, Abbottswood Medical Centre, in Defford Road, Pershore, was the only one of the eight that missed out on the cash windfall.

The plans are to extend the centre so it can provide more services and 21st Century health care.

Solutions

The PCT now says it is to discuss an array of solutions to ensure the project goes ahead, and the most likely contender is an "improvement grant" that would be paid out of the PCT's own coffers.

The project is "complimentary" to plans to build a new community hospital and medical centre in Pershore.

In a report to the PCT's board, chief executive Mike Ridley, said: "We still have a number of key aspirations for the future, particularly including modernisation and development for the Pershore hospital, where plans are well advanced.

"Discussions will continue about a new Malvern hospital and there will also be talks over the site of Evesham community hospital."

He urged GPs, district councils and local health organisations to show the same support for these projects as was given during the saga surrounding the medical centres funding fiasco.

The PCT's board was set to meet today, in the Pump Rooms, Tenbury Wells, where they will be asked to give the seal of approval to a total 12 proposed GP surgery developments - seven of which were the ones put on ice in February.

If they are given the green light, the surgeries - in Worcester, Malvern, Pershore, Upton-upon-Severn, Ombersley, Droitwich and Evesham - should be built by June next year.

The future of Abbottswood Medical Centre will also be discussed at the meeting.