POTENTIAL sites have emerged that could allow two Malvern surgeries to move to new, modern facilities without having to leave the centre of town.

Surgeries that have outgrown their premises at Court Road and Victoria Park want to move to a combined base at Townsend Way.

But the proposals have met fierce opposition from patients.

Around 200 residents turned out to four public meetings organised by South Worcestershire PCT over the last fortnight to discuss the moves.

Malvern Hills District Council has lifted a moratorium on the sale of its land with a view to providing new sites for doctors' surgeries.

The old Treasurers' site on Albert Road North, the Pickersleigh Road Depot, a "BMX site" on Cowleigh Bank and a patch of land behind the Splash are now being considered by the PCT.

At two public meetings on Wednes-day proposals to help the PCT reduce its £5.7 million debt were discussed.

These include plans to ask Worces-tershire County Council to fund occupational therapists and to close Malvern's sexual health clinic.

Pat Merrick, chairman of the Friends of Malvern Hospital, said the county council's budget had already been set and the proposals would mean occupational therapists having to go.

Roland Clayton, whose wife had suffered a stroke, said the proposal to withdraw the occupational therapists worried him. "I do not want my wife or myself to go prematurely into a residential home," he said.

Another member of the public predicted that if occupational therapists were withdrawn a huge increase in hospital admissions would result.

Malvern Hills councillor Alex Stewart-Cleary said young people with sexual problems would not travel to Worcester to try and sort them out.

On Tuesday MHDC's overview and scrutiny committee, which will meet at 7pm at Priory Lodge Hall, will also discuss both the possible relocation of GP surgeries to Townsend Way and a a new community hospital in Malvern.

At its last meeting in February the committee agreed to put the severest pressure on the PCT to start planning for a modern hospital in Malvern.

Additionally, it resolved to urge the PCT to develop a single, holistic strategy for health care to meet the needs of residents and to work jointly with the district council.