Cannock health centre plans scrapped

A multi-million pound health centre that would have treated 10,000 patients in Staffordshire has been scrapped, four years after the plans were first mooted.

The proposed three-storey development was due to be based in Mill Street, Cannock, but after years of public meetings, consultations and design changes, South Staffordshire PCT has pulled the plug on the project.

Bosses say a "change in the political and economic landscape" is behind the decision. They have ordered a review of services in the wake of the scheme being aborted.

Graham Unwin, chief executive of the Staffordshire Cluster of NHS trusts, revealed the project had hit the buffers in a letter seen by the Express & Star.

He said the trust board had reached the verdict the multi-million pound investment in the scheme did not offer "value for money".

South Staffordshire PCT issued a statement saying the proposed health centre was no longer viable.

Cannock Chase councillor Muriel Davis, health chief at the authority, said the news had come out of the blue.

"It's very disappointing as it looked like an exciting project and there is no obvious back-up plan," she said.

"We're concerned for the people of Cannock as they were promised a health centre."