THE plan for a new health centre and cottage hospital in Pershore is back on track following months of uncertainty.

Funding is now confirmed for the new facilities which will be built by Wychavon District Council at its Civic Centre site and then leased back to the health authorities.

The plan was thrown into doubt earlier this year by changes to Government funding priorities which threatened eight proposed new health centres across Worcestershire. Because the planned replacement for the Priest Lane Health Centre was to share a building with the Cottage Hospital, the future of both schemes looked bleak.

However, following months of lobbying by local MPs, county, district and town councillors and Pershore Cottage Hospital's league of friends, the project is now back on track.

South Worcestershire NHS Primary Care Trust is due to officially launch the projects when it meets next Wednesday, June 2.

Chief executive of the trust Mike Ridley said: "I am absolutely delighted that much hard work has produced this tremendous result for the trust and more importantly for the practices and patients that will stand to gain from the significantly improved premises."

The new 76-room facility will have a health centre on the ground floor, a new Cottage Hospital on the second and offices on the third.

The health centre will have 13 GP surgeries along with a range of other services, such as a minor injuries unit.

The new Cottage Hospital will have 26 beds, up from 19 at the old hospital, a children's unit, physiotherapy facilities and outpatient rooms.

Chairman of Pershore Cottage Hospital League of Friends Tricia Freeman said she was delighted. "I feel like hiring an aeroplane with a huge banner with 'we've done it!' written on it in big letters for everyone to see."

Wychavon councillor Judy Pearce, who pioneered the partnership scheme for the new facilities in Pershore, said the stalled project was already moving forward again. "We are pushing ahead and we hope there will only be a delay of six months, from the autumn of next year to the spring of 2006."

Extra funding for Pershore's other health facility, Abbotswood Medical Centre, is still be reviewed by the primary care trust. Coun Pearce said she was confident the expansion would go ahead. "Nothing can happen at Abbotswood until the old hospital moves in order to free up some space. By this time funding is likely to be in place."

Once the new facility has been opened it is thought that the old Cottage Hospital and Priest Lane sites will be demolished to make way for housing.