MP calls on Government to support £15.5m Clitheroe hospital plan (From Lancashire Telegraph)

MP calls on Government to support £15.5m Clitheroe hospital plan

2:00pm Sunday 28th February 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(2)

AN MP has made calls for the Government to back a multi-million pound community hospital in Clitheroe.

Plans for a £15.5million hospital were mooted in May last year, but they were scrapped in November due to a lack of funds.

Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans raised the issue in the House of Commons and tabled an Early Day Motion in a bid to gain support for his campaign.

He said: “I do feel that it is vitally important that this work is completed.

“It would regenerate a fantastic community facility and provide a much-needed local service.

“I hope the situation is resolved as quickly as possible and that the people of the Ribble Valley receive the community hospital that they were promised.”

In January, health boss Steve Spoerry, was heckled at a council meeting over the shelving of plans for the hospital.

The chief executive of East Lancashire PCT, attended the heated meeting in the town hall and faced angry residents and councillors who demanded answers about the future of the scheme.

Mr Evans said: “The Government needs to intervene urgently to ensure that the new hospital goes ahead.

“Community hospitals are vital to this country, and Clitheroe deserves its hospital.”

A decision on the future of the hospital is due to be made at a meeting of the East Lancashire primary care trust on March 25.

Mr Spoerry said: “The review will encompass proposed primary care facilities in several locations, including Clitheroe, to see if they are affordable and deliverable in the present harsh economic climate.

“Until the review has concluded, we need to ‘press the pause’ button on a number of schemes.”