by EMILY BRIDGEWATER

A BROMSGROVE hospital could finally see plans to build a new care unit for terminally-ill patients go ahead, after a long-running wrangle over funding is set to be resolved.

Construction of the new six-bed palliative care unit at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital could start as early as March next year.

The state-of-the-art unit, which will care for people with cancer, will be fully supported by the Primrose Hospice. Hospice chairman John Burman has been instrumental in fighting for the funding to create the unit.

Last February, the Advertiser/Messenger revealed that money from the sale of the land at the Stourbridge Road hospital site had been allocated to fund the new unit.

However, confusion then followed over where the money should go after a Government reshuffle of the National Health Service.

The Primary Care Group was replaced by a more locally based Primary Care Trust (PCT), which was over-seen by the Strategic Health Authority. Both bodies claimed different interests in the money.

But now, thanks to the tireless work of John Burman and Bromsgrove and Redditch PCT chief executive Eamonn Kelly plans for the palliative care unit will get the go ahead.

Speaking at the Primrose Hospice annual general meeting Mr Burman said he felt positive for the future of palliative care in Bromsgrove and thanked the PCT for all their support.

Mr Kelly, who was also at the meeting, held at the Hanover International Hotel last Wednesday said: "This is the first step to meet the need for beds.

"Palliative patients who are currently in the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch can be transferred to this new unit, which will free-up beds for other patients."

Mr Kelly added: "It will have a benefit for the whole health authority."