PERSHORE Cottage Hospital League of Friends want millions of pounds allocated for the acute trust to be invested in the troubled GP practice development.

South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust announced last week that plans for a health centre on the civic centre site had been suspended because of a change in government funding.

League of Friends chairman Tricia Freeman and vice-chairman Michael Amies said in a statement: "We note that the trust budgets for future years include substantial annual contributions to the acute trust of some £3 million. This would be enough to fund the suspended developments and we believe that would be a more appropriate use of funds that are, after all, allocated to primary care.

"However it is achieved, we believe that it is vital for the future health of local people that the trust finds a way to carry out the plans as originally envisaged," they said.

Trust chief executive Mike Ridley said he has made a new submission to the department of health for funding and has been in discussions with all parties this week about how to continue the development.

West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer added: "A financial crisis is emerging in the health service in Worcestershire. As a matter of urgency I will press ministers in Parliament to find out what on earth is going on. On the one hand taxes are going up apparently to put more money into the health service; on the other hand the quality of those services in Worcestershire would seem to be going down. Promise and performance are simply not adding up."

Wychavon councillor, Judy Pearce, responsible for health said: "Our commit to the project remains the same. The PCT should have news for us at its next meeting on April 7 at the latest."

The League of Friends feels confident the issues can be resolved and has started a recruitment campaign to help raise funds to equip the new hospital.

Anyone served by the two practices who would like to join the Friends, which costs £10 a year, should contact Peter Belcher on 01386 861358.