HIGH hopes that the plan for the building of a new Liskeard Hospital would get the green light for work to begin almost immediately, were dashed on Monday.

At a meeting of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority at St Austell, it was revealed that there is a shortfall in the calculated annual running costs of the new hospital of £440,000, taking the total from £4.5 million to a new figure of £5 million.

The Health Authority's Director of Performance, Mr Murray Cochrane, told the Cornish Times this meant that before the final go ahead could be given, these new figures would have to be proved to be affordable and sustainable over the next three years. A second meeting is now to take place on March 27, when it is hoped the two factors can be proven.

Important

'Inflation during the time of planning the hospital, technical changes and a revaluation of the existing properties at Lamellion and Passmore Edwards Hospitals have contributed to the shortfall' said Mr Cochrane. 'We recognise the scheme is important and much needed' he said.

He added that if the scheme is approved at the next meeting, then the first stage of building would follow hot on the heels of the rubber stamping, and could begin within six weeks. There would be 15 months of work with the opening scheduled for about August 2003. 'It is just a case of completing the business case, and Liskeard's new hospital is next on the list of major building for the Health Authority in the county' he added.

Dr Tony Piper, (Liskeard), chairman of the East Cornwall Primary Care Group, said it is certain the hospital will go ahead, it is just a question of when. 'Any further delays means more cost' he said, 'and I hope this latest financial query will not signal a reduced facility which would be undesirable.'

He said the local medical and nursing staff were presently doing a very difficult job under difficult circumstances, and were looking forward to 21st century facilities.

The Liskeard Community Hospital, is to be built at a cost of £6,453,000, under the Private Finance Initiative Scheme. It will be situated on a single greenfield site to the east of Liskeard between the Hendra Parc housing facility and Vospers' garage and will replace the present Victorian built Lamellion and Passmore Edwards Hospitals which will close down.

Ryhurst Ltd will design, build, maintain and operate the hospital with the contract lasting for the first 30 years of the building's estimated 60 year life.

The hospital will provide 19 GP bed medical beds and 33 care of the elderly beds, and will also have X ray facilities and a small accident and emergency unit as at present.

However, there are no plans to retain an operating theatre which has been the cause of much debate during the years of planning.

Some equipment will be transferred from the two old hospitals and £149,000 is to be spent on new equipment.

The hospital will also provide facilities for the Community Mental Health Trust base and day resource centre presently operated at Trevillis House, and the health office at Trewithan House.