HEALTH chiefs are forging ahead with plans to rebuild Wharfedale General Hospital on its present site - but have warned the money-men will eventually decide where it will be built.

In an effort to move the project on, Leeds Health Authority is backing an Outline Business Case (OBC) based on the

redevelopment of the Newall Carr site.

The plan for the £15 million hospital will now be forwarded to the regional health executive at Durham.

It is hoped approval will be given by early December,

private backing sought shortly afterwards and the new

hospital opened in January, 2004.

But it has been stressed that the final choice of site will be down to private backers chosen to build the hospital - which does not completely rule out High Royds Hospital, Menston.

Mike Ramsden, chief executive of Leeds Health Authority, said at Friday's extraordinary board meeting at Leeds Civic Hall, that the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) - which would pay for the hospital - would ultimately decide where the

hospital was built.

"The only way forward is through the PFI process. We cannot even get to the first stage unless we agree on the OBC that we have before us.

"Any PFI applicant has the right to look again at the site and to determine for themselves what would be the best site. It is not the case here today that we are closed to other site options, but we cannot get any further ahead unless we agree with the OBC."

The meeting heard the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust defend its decision to pick the current site ahead of High Royds - originally placed higher in an evaluation of

possible sites.

Representatives from groups, including the Leeds North West Primary Care Group, Leeds Community Health Council, Ilkley Parish Council and Menston Community Association, all questioned why the site had been chosen following the

collapse of talks with Otley landowner P Garnett and Son over the preferred site off Pool Road.

But Otley Town Council, Otley Town Partnership and Leeds North West Labour MP Harold Best argued that the present site was best.

Carol Cockrane, general manager of the Leeds North West PCG, criticised the trust for failing to consult with it over the choice of a new site following the withdrawal of the Garnett's site. She added the PCG was also concerned that changes had been made to the points system in which the current site had been placed as the least favoured option.

Aireborough Labour MP Paul Truswell hoped that the High Royds site would not be ruled out. He said: "If this had been a horse race there would have been a doping inquiry. It seems to me that throughout the process there has been an

understanding that High Royds has always been a site that needs a bit too much work to pursue it."

But Mr Best pressed for quick action. "Lets have a decision, lets get the hospital up and let it meet the needs of the people," said Mr Best.

Councillor Colin Campbell, of Otley Town Council, said the council was fully committed to a new hospital in the town but added there were some concerns about the predicted finish date and likely disruption while work was going on.

But Councillor Audrey Brand, plans chairman of Ilkley Parish Council, suggested that the trust was looking for the quickest option. "Is this a last minute, quick fix or are we

looking for something that will have long term value."

Coun Brand said the Newall Carr site suffered from poor access and there would be a disruption while the new hospital was being built.

She said High Royds benefited from more space, good public transport and had the ambulance service just over the road.

David Johnson, chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, said it was believed rebuilding on the present hospital site was the quickest option.

He agreed that it was optimistic to believe the hospital would be opened by January 2004 but that the trust would do all it could to stick to the timescales. "We have had

discussions with planners. It is optimistic, but I can assure you that the trust will work very hard to meet the time scales.

"What separates the options as far as we are concerned is being able to provide a hospital in the fastest possible time and we believe that is on the present site," he said.

l See Letters and Comment on page 6.