Better by design

The local authority has stumped up the £6m for the new cottage hospital and health centre which will then be leased to whatever Primary Care Trust emerges from an impending reshuffle of health services in the county.

Work has already started - a week ahead of schedule - on the 26-bed hospital and expanded health centre near Pershore Civic Centre which will be the country's first public/public initiative.

"The benefit for the Primary Care Trust is that we won't be charging the horrendous sort of rates they would have to pay to a private partner supplying the capital costs in a PFI partnership," explained Cllr Judy Pearce, health spokesman for the council.

"In return we are supplying a top class health facility for residents and are getting a better return for our money than we would do at the bank.

"It's a win-win situation because we can relieve the burden on people's council tax."

And Cllr Pearce revealed the council's actions - which started with providing the funding for a Waitrose supermarket to regenerate Droitwich High Street - could set a national trend.

"It seems an eminently sensible thing to be doing," she added.

"A lot of councils are sitting on cash mountains after disposing of their housing stock and other councils, with larger cash reserves than us are consulting us."

Diggers have already started moving earth on the hospital site which is due for completion next September.

The hospital will include physiotherapy, audiology, ophthalmology units and a children's ward. The expanded health centre will replace the existing centre and will increase the number of GPs from eight to 13 and include extra facilities like a minor injuries unit.

Following the success of the scheme, Cllr Pearce said the council was looking at other possible capital projects to benefit the community, including the planned new Evesham Hospital.

4 An artist's impression of the new Pershore Hospital.