FRESH doubts about the legality of the Pershore Cottage Hospital consultation process emerged at a council meeting last night.

At the Wychavon District Council meeting, managing director Sid Pritchard said the consultation on the hospital's future had taken place "without simple, understandable information on the PCT's proposals, financial impact or other options".

"The options put forward by the PCT do not appear to help and certainly do not explain how they relate to the PCT's precarious financial position," he said.

Last week, Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said people in the county were "seriously worried" that the consultation currently being carried out by South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust could be open to legal challenge.

The council's health scrutiny team has produced two alternative options to the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust proposal.

These will be considered by councillors at a special full council meeting Tuesday, April 22.

The PCT wants to sell Pershore Cottage Hospital in a bid to pay off its debts and modernise services.

But the scrutiny team has proposed to either:

- Rebuild the existing hospital on the same site and provide a new health centre at the civic centre, or:

- Build a new hospital and health centre at the civic centre site.

Trust chief executive Mike Ridley said he had involved a number of interested public groups, GPs, the Community Health Council and other individuals in discussions before starting the public consultation.