Shortage of cash blamed for delays to new surgery

Patients in Ellesmere will have to wait for their new doctors' surgery because of a lack of funds for building work - despite it being on a "priority list".

A meeting of the Five Perry Parishes local joint committee (LJC) heard from county health chiefs who confirmed no money has been set aside for the facility despite Ellesmere featuring on a "priority list" for new builds.

At its last meeting, LJC members had asked Shropshire Primary Care Trust for information about progress on the surgery.

But last night hopes of seeing work start were dashed when it was revealed there is no funding.

Menna Rees, district manager for the PCT, said: "There is currently no funding identified for a new build project. However, there has recently been extensive improvements to the current surgery building."

She gave no timetable for when work might begin.

In a bid to push the Ellesmere project forward, the former North Shropshire District Council snapped up land at the town wharf for the PCT to build on. Outline planning permission for the site has also been secured.

Jenny Wilbraham, vice chairwoman of Ellesmere Patients' Group, said today: "The people of Ellesmere had been waiting in vain for five months to hear if they had the green light for a new surgery.

"The announcement should have been made five months ago. Now, not only has Ellesmere been denied the surgery, but that it has been pushed even further down the waiting list."

But there was better news for patients in Oswestry, after Mrs Rees told the meeting that the building of a new Primary Care Centre in the town was scheduled to be finished in 2010 and will include a minor injuries unit.