Fresh £25m health plan handed in to authority

A "tailored" bid to fund a multi-million pound health village in south Shropshire has been submitted, and campaigners hope for an answer this month.

Shropshire County PCT has been working with partner organisations on the revised £25 million bid which is to go before the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority tomorrow.

Peter Corfield, chairman of Ludlow Hospital's League of Friends, said today: "It is a revised business case which really reflects the change in financial circumstances of the country."

The news comes after campaigners appealed directly to the health secretary after health officials warned that possible funding cuts could threaten the development planned for the town's Eco Park in May.

Previously, the PCT's project board and stakeholders heard cash was "unlikely" to come from Government, hindering the initial funding bid for the project.

Simon Kenton, director of joint commissioning of Shropshire County PCT, said today: "Shropshire County PCT has worked with partner organisations and local community groups, particularly the League of Friends of Ludlow Hospital to develop a strategic outline case for future healthcare services for south west Shropshire.

"The outline strategic case is expected to be re-submitted to the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority . . . by the end of today. We hope to have an outcome at the beginning of 2010."

But Mr Corfield is hoping that a decision will be made within the next few weeks which could mean that construction could be under way as early as 2012.

Plans for the development will include facilities to treat more patients, a dialysis unit and a GP surgery.