THE traditional topping out of Worcester's £4m health education centre was due to take place today - less than a year after work was started on the site near to the new city hospital.

The Charles Hastings Education Centre is part of the health service complex being developed at Newtown and has been spearheaded by John Black, a consultant surgeon at Worcester Royal Infirmary.

Peter Fallows, chairman of Worcestershire County Council, will fix the last slate on the roof but fund-raisers are still working hard to ensure the building is properly equipped and furnished when it opens in April 2002.

Wonderful facility

Harold Musgrove, chairman of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said the new centre will be a wonderful facility for the education and training of NHS staff in Worcestershire and surrounding areas for generations to come, while Phil Morris, project director, said everyone who has seen the new building was delighted with it.

"The innovative design includes two circular turrets - one housing the library and the other a lecture theatre," said Mr Morris.

"The topping out is a major milestone but there are still opportunities for an individual or organisation to make a donation."