HEALTH chiefs today gave the thumbs-up to plans for a new health centre in Bicester, despite fears by campaigners that it will not be big enough.

Alan Webb, director of commissioning for Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), told a meeting this morning about the plans.

He said: "We are committed to delivering our plans which comprise a state-of-the-art primary care centre offering a wide range of services and 12 beds - either within or next to the primary care centre or elsewhere in the town."

advertisement Save Our Community Hospital campaign leader councillor Les Sibley agreed it was a step forward.

However, he said the town required a minimum of 30 beds to cope with demand.

He said: "Before the PCT finalises its business case we need to make sure that all the options are on the table, properly evaluated and costed.

"We need a lot more beds than what they are advocating at this time. However, they did say they were willing to get some sort of flexible agreement with a bed provider if the demand for more beds is required - and I think it will be."

Today's event at the Littlebury Hotel in King's End, which runs until 8.30pm, is to keep residents in the town up-to-date with plans to replace the town's out-of-date 12-bed cottage hospital.

Residents and campaigners have been fighting for a 30-bed community hospital which was promised to them by the government more than ten years ago. However, the PCT wants to replace the town's old hospital with a primary care centre.

The centre could provide a number of services including out-patient services such as dermatology; provision for some day-care procedures; a minor injuries clinic; physiotherapy and occupational therapy; community nursing teams; out-of-hours GP services; blood testing and improved diagnostic services such as X-ray.

Mr Webb added: "The benefits of this approach are that local people will receive the right package of care, with more choice, closer to home.

"Healthcare has changed dramatically over the past 10 years and our current plans reflect that.

"While we all acknowledge that Bicester Hospital desperately needs replacing, it is not viable or desirable to replace like with like."

A detailed assessment is currently being undertaken to decide exactly what should be provided. It is not yet known how much the care centre could cost, but it will be paid, commissioned and run by the PCT.

The research and proposals will be finalised by spring.