HEALTH chiefs have defended the delays to the new hospital in Alcester.

The chief executive of South Warwickshire Primary Care Trust, Teresa French, said they agreed the current facilities at Priory Medical Centre and Arrow Lodge Medical Centre were no longer suitable for the level of service the NHS wanted to deliver and they were working to find solutions to provide more suitable facilities for GPs.

But Mrs French also said it was vital for developments taking place to be based on a sound business case to provide patients and staff with the initial benefits and ones that will also be viable in the future.

She added: "For these reasons, it is essential the business case is robust and receives the approval of the PCT board.

"The board is due to receive the business case at its May meeting and a further update can be given following this meeting."

Planning permission was granted in December for the new hospital but frustrations arose when the PCT asked for additional work to be done on the business and service cases.

Mrs French said: "The rules around funding and new developments are altering all the time within the NHS and it is vital business plans demonstrate value for money and additional benefits for patients in the immediate future, as well as showing these benefits will be sustainable into the future."