MEMBERS of Pershore Civic Society have condemned the proposed changes to health services in the town.

They hit out at the lack of consultation over the proposals, which include selling Pershore Cottage Hospital and creating a replacement on the Heathlands site.

The society's executive board held an extraordinary meeting last week to discuss the situation.

Society members Roy and Janet Daniels, of Conningsby Drive, Pershore, said people in the town had been given only a few weeks to submit opinions and objections.

They also asked why Pershore was being made the scapegoat to help reduce South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust's debts.

The move to Heathlands was not the answer. There was no way the present ground-floor layout of Heathlands could cope with trolleys taking patients to and from their rooms, they said.

The couple attacked the plans to close the Priest Lane Health Centre and dental practice, saying relocation to the Civic Centre would cause increased traffic congestion.

"Can we trust this trust?" they asked. "Look at what happened to the minor injuries unit at the Cottage Hospital.

"We were promised it would be restored within months, but we believe they were already planning to sell the hospital.

"Perhaps the most disturbing features of the above are that these proposals appear to have been made hurriedly without sufficient consideration for the ensuing consequences."

Gillian Goodlad, South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust's director of modernisation, said she was aware of the concerns.

"We will be replying separately to the society and their response will be included in comments on the consultation process due to finish on May 1," she said.

"It will then be considered by the PCT trust board at the public board meeting on May 6."