A RENEWED call for action to replace or redevelop Malvern Community Hospital has been made by Sir Michael Spicer.

After visiting the hospital during a round of Christmas calls in Malvern, the West Worcestershire MP said it was obvious the building was in dire need of refurbishment.

"My visit clearly demonstrated how popular the local community hospital is and how wonderful the staff are.

"It is a tremendously happy place, but it is in dire need of refurbishment and development. It has run out of space in terms of modern requirements," he said.

"It is essential that the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust does not continue to procrastinate on this decision.

"They must either substantially develop this hospital or do what I have been pressing for and build a new one on the Seaford Court site."

A decision on a proposed new health centre at Seaford Court has been delayed because of a financial crisis, leaving a £5m gap in the trust's budget.

In a series of increasingly acrimonious correspondence with chairman David Barlow, Sir Michael has accused the trust of mismanagement and asked for an explanation of its mishandling of finances. In his latest reply, Mr Barlow said the health budget was organised on a countywide basis.

"It is simply impossible - and indeed highly undesirable - for individual elements within it to start self-indulgently turning financial taps on or off without consideration of the knock-on effect," he said.

He suggested that it was unhelpful to conduct exchanges through the local media and offered to give Sir Michael a private briefing.

But Sir Michael said he was not prepared to have "cosy meetings."

"I say there is mismanagement. It is a matter that needs to be aired in public," he said.