Staffordshire health centre ditched due to lack of interest from GPs

It was announced earlier this month that the new facility in Burntwood had been axed by NHS England due to budget pressures.

Tory MP Michael Fabricant wrote to Health Minister Jeremy Hunt demanding answers.

Under-Secretary of State for Health, Daniel Poulter, has written back to Lichfield MP Mr Fabricant, outlining the reasons the plug was pulled on the project.

In his letter he says: "We are advised that capital development schemes that had not been formally approved by former primary care trust boards by October 1, 2012 have been reviewed by NHS England.

"This includes the Burntwood Leisure Centre development. NHS England concluded, following assessment, that the scheme did not meet the requirements for prioritisation and it was therefore not approved.

"These requirements include, but not exhaustively, service continuity, affordability and value for money.

"It was noted that the project had not received an unequivocally clear commitment from a number of the potential occupiers of the centre."

Mr Fabricant said: "I have written to a more senior minister within the Department for Health to get

guidance on where to go now.

"Of the six GPs in Burntwood, the majority withdrew from the scheme. No-one is going to build a health centre if there are not the doctors to fill it."

Plans for the centre were approved in 2011. But the town was left in limbo over the planned GP and nursing complex following the restructure of the NHS.

Bosses from NHS England sent an email to Lichfield District Council to tell them that the plans had been axed due to the current difficult financial situation.

The centre was due to be built in the grounds of Burntwood Leisure Centre and would have served 22,000 patients. There is a temporary centre currently based at Burntwood Leisure Centre.

Campaigners described the announcement about the proposed centre as a 'terrible blow.'