THE future of hospital care in Pershore will be discussed at a meeting between the district council leader and the health authority.

Wychavon District Council chief Malcolm Meikle is due to hold talks with members of the Strategic Health Authority on Monday, accompanied by Worcester County Council's social services spokesman, Councillor Liz Eyre.

News of the get-together was announced by Coun Meikle at a special council meeting to discuss hospital provision, at which members voted unanimously that they would like to see a hospital and/or health centre built on the existing Defford Road site or Civic Centre site.

Councillors also discussed the investment of council cash and authorisation for managing director Sid Pritchard to continue negotiations with the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust on the detail.

In an update on discussions with the PCT, Mr Pritchard said it was made clear the council was prepared to invest considerable money in improving health facilities in the town despite residents' fears that services were in danger of being moved to Evesham.

Officers had confirmed there was space for the hospital and health centre on the Civic Centre site and Mr Pritchard said the PCT accepted the idea in principle, subject to financial appraisal.

The PCT had asked for an early financial and business case, he added, presumably so it could be judged against other options.

Mr Pritchard said indications were that planning issues, particularly parking, were resolvable as part of a package of proposals involving council land adjacent to the Civic Centre and other PCT sites in the town.

"A wider view of health provision in South Worcestershire may require a separate consultation but it may be that the local aspects are a precursor to the planning process when a clearer idea of the detailed proposals is available," he said.

- The annual meeting of the Friends of Pershore Cottage Hospital is on Monday, at 7pm, in the committee room of the Civic Centre, Pershore.