CAMPAIGNERS battling to save the only bedded cancer ward in south Worcester-shire are jubilant after health chiefs abandoned the proposals.

South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT) wanted to close the five-bed Macmillan Unit at Evesham Community Hospital as part of a series of 19 measures to plug a £13m gap in its funding created after its budget was top-sliced to help pay off national NHS debt. In order to save as much money as possible, the proposals needed to be implemented immediately.

But the county council's health overview and scrutiny committee decided that nine of the proposals - including closing the Macmillan Unit - needed to go out to public consultation. Health chiefs have now decided that the delay caused by consultation would reduce the amount of savings made in year, and have therefore abandoned all nine measures.

Coun Malcolm Meikle, leader of the health scrutiny team at Wychavon District Council, said: "We're all delighted that common sense has at last prevailed. I think there has been a change of direction at the top (central Government) and the whole campaign against health cuts nationally has got too hot to handle."

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said: "I welcome this news - however, I must warn the community to remain watchful and be prepared to mobilise once again as soon any new threat emerges."

Paul Bates, acting chief executive of the PCT, said: "The PCT has decided that it would not be appropriate to proceed to consultation on nine of its more significant measures and therefore the proposed changes won't be implemented."

Councillor Simon Ger-aghty, chairman of the health overview and scrutiny committee said: "The decision by the PCT not to proceed at this stage is sensible."

Other proposals which did not require public consultation included a number of cost-cutting measures.

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