THE chairman of the Friends of Evesham Community Hospital has called for Worcestershire's health chiefs to get their act together.

South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust has revealed its proposals for Pershore Cottage Hospital and its plans for Malvern Health Centre.

But it has not yet come to a decision on the future of Evesham's hospital as it looks at ways of repaying debts of more than £5m.

Friends chairman Frances Smith said she hoped the health bosses would keep the hospital where it was but redevelop the site.

"I want it to remain on the same site," she said.

"Evesham people don't want to have the hospital moved elsewhere.

"We've already had one hospital and one maternity ward taken away from us."

Mrs Smith said they should keep the same services in Evesham and improve on them.

"We've got some fabulous staff at the hospital and we want to see the provision of more services," she said.

"What I'm unhappy about is that whoever has been in charge of Worcestershire health hasn't been able to manage the finances they are given.

"Each year, they get into debt. They need to get their act together. You can't keep paying off debts by selling the family silver.

"It's incompetent."

Mrs Smith said the Friends of Evesham Hospital were happy to talk to the PCT to discuss the future of the hospital.

The PCT intends to sell off Pershore Cottage Hospital and relocate it on a different site in the town.

The money it receives from the sale of the land and the building will go towards paying off the current debt - but health chiefs will need to sell more of the county's assets to recoup the debt.

A spokesman for the PCT said Evesham Community Hospital would be considered later in the year.