"Historic Day" As Malvern Gets Cash For New Community Hospital

10.35.00am GMT Tue 18th Dec 2007

Lib Dem health campaigner and parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt today hailed the decision to award over £19million from the Government's Community Hospitals Fund as an "historic day" for Malvern.

The parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire said he was "delighted" that Malvern had finally got the capital investment necessary to proceed with building a new hospital. He praised the Chief Executive of the newly formed Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, Paul Bates, for steering the bid through.

Mr Burt, who last year presented a petition from local residents to the Secretary of State for Health in Whitehall, calling for Malvern's share of the £150million Community Hospitals Fund, said the decision "was a vindication of thirty years of campaigning by local residents, and the perfect Christmas present for the district."

"Now the Trust can move forward to a full business plan and sign contracts to build the new hospital on the Seaford Court site within the next two years. I have also received assurances in a recent meeting with Trust Chief Executive, Paul Bates that the £1million extra revenue costs to run the new hospital can be delivered from within the Trust's own development budget without the need to cut back on existing services," added Mr Burt.