A patients' forum is urging Oxford University's Vice-Chancellor to drop his opposition to a medical centre on the Radcliffe Infirmary site.

Oxford City Patients' Forum made a direct appeal to Dr John Hood, after the university's opposition helped kill off hopes of a 'super surgery' in the city centre.

The university was obliged to offer 2.8 acres of the site to Oxford City Primary Care Trust as part of the deal when it bought the large hospital site.

But the university made it clear to planners that it had no wish to have the supersurgery as its new neighbour when the Radcliffe Infirmary closes in 2007.

Patient forum chairman Barbara Jeffrey and vice-chairman Mary Judge have now written to Dr Hood to express "profound dismay" that the city council's strategic development control committee had rejected the health scheme.

And they said that Oxford patients, including students and university staff, would be the ones to suffer if the council decision stood.

The letter says: "Our understanding is that Oxford University is reluctant to release the necessary land for this develop- ment."

After reminding Dr Hood that the sale of the site included an option to provide replacement community health facilities, they warn that "no viable alternative" to the plan exists.

The letter asks: "Where otherwise is there land in the shorter term to rehouse those practices, which wish to locate to this site in order to upgrade their premises to meet new standards?

"How will GPs have access to faster diagnostics to speed up complex diagnoses?"

The forum leaders have appealed to the Vice-Chancellor, "on behalf of the public of Oxford" to meet city planners and the Oxford PCT to re-examine whether a small part of the prestigious hospital site could be returned to health care.

The proposed health development would have incorporated six GP surgeries, including two from Beaumont Street. Other services would have included podiatary, physiotherapy, sexual health, family planning minor surgery facilities, a community pharmacy and diagnostic testing such as x ray and ultrasound scanning.

The university says that its objections to the plan are in keeping with the newly adopted Local Plan.

A spokesman said: "The Local Plan clearly states that this area should be designated for educational use, and we believe that it is important that its future use remains in line with this aim."

But Oxford PCT has complained that the Local Plan, while earmarking land for housing and student accommodation, makes no provision for any health care in the city centre.

City councillors had ex- pressed concern about the traffic generated by such a big centre, with 165 car parking spaces proposed.