A CLINIC offering separate alternatives to the combined MMR jab is will re-open tomorrow after being out of action for almost two months.

The Desumo clinic was forced to close its doors at the beginning of March because it was not registered with the National Care Standards Commission.

But the clinic's founder, Deborah Ryding, from Ledbury, said Desumo would re-open in Worcester having completed extensive checks by commission officials - in the same week that it was announced that take-up for the MMR has never been lower.

"We've done everything as quickly as possible," she said. "I'm glad it's over. The office staff have really had to do an awful lot of extra work and extra hours to do what the commission wanted us to do."

Many children were left with incomplete courses of injections when the organisation, which runs fortnightly vaccination sessions at Unity House in Stanley Road, had to close.

Parents will be reassured to know they will now be taking their children to a fully registered clinic run by staff with better training than before the closure.

"We've all done a child protection course and a resuscitation course," said Mrs Ryding.

"Nothing has greatly changed, but our clinics will be smaller. We may have to put on some additional clinics."

She also thanked parents for supporting the clinic through such a difficult time.

"They kept telling us not to give up, and that helped enormously," she said. "That justified why we are here - the clinic was set up by parents, for parents."

Desumo was established two years ago, when concerns arose about the safety of the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Set-backs in the past

The clinic has suffered other setbacks in the past. Its former GP, Dr Peter Mansfield, faced a General Medical Council disciplinary hearing in 2001 after being reported by Worcestershire Health Authority, but was cleared.

It has also found it difficult to source supplies of certain vaccines. However, Desumo is still popular, with many parents worried that the combined vaccine causes autism and bowel diseases..

We took this on and we knew it was a big responsibility," said Mrs Ryding. "We have to see it through to the end."