Clevedon community hospital plans scrapped

Plans for a new community hospital in a North Somerset town have been scrapped.

The existing hospital in Clevedon, which opened in 1874, was due to be replaced by a £15m facility.

A review of the business case by NHS North Somerset and NHS South of England concluded that the proposals were "unaffordable".

Health care bosses said they would engage with other groups to create alternative proposals that would be more sustainable in the long-term.

In December, the new hospital was put on hold, the same month work was due to begin.

David Tappin, director of strategic development for the Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset primary care cluster said earlier: "All of us involved in making this decision have to exercise responsibility and ensure that the legacy of the primary care trust is one of financial stability.

"Our commitment to providing services in Clevedon and the surrounding area remains the same.

"However, we need to revisit options for the hospital and in doing so ensure that high quality, locally accessible services are available for patients and that our plans are flexible for the future and enable the efficient delivery of patient care."