MS treatment centre scrapped

It is believed that £300,000 has already been spent on the centre

Plans to build a centre near Bristol to treat sufferers of multiple sclerosis have been scrapped, after a public appeal raised more than £1m towards the project.

The Multiple Sclerosis Nerve Centre was due to be built at a derelict stable block at Frenchay Hospital, and be open by next summer.

In a statement, the Trustees of the charity said the four-year project had been abandoned "because of doubts about the future of Frenchay Hospital.

"In May 2003 the North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), under financial pressure, put the project on hold, effectively freezing new fundraising initiatives", it added.

The NBT, which runs Frenchay, revealed a £44.3m deficit at two of its hospitals earlier this year.

An artist's impression of the new centre

Dr Martin Morse, from the Trust, told the BBC: "The overspend that we have hasn't helped, but it is not the prime reason why we are in this situation today."

It is believed that £300,000 has already been spent on work at the centre, and the charity hopes some or all of this will be recovered from the NBT.

The fundraising appeal for the research and treatment centre has been closed.

'Key conditions'

The charity's statement read: "The NHS Trust is supportive of the project in general terms, but says it will be late next year before it can confirm plans for the future of Frenchay.

"This effectively blocks fundraising for another year because potential donors understandably need very detailed proposals for consideration. Meanwhile building costs rise relentlessly.

"The NHS Trust has made it clear that it will no longer meet one of the key conditions underpinning the agreement.

"This was that the integrated centre would be transferred to another site if Frenchay closes or that a similar integrated centre would necessarily be created at another hospital site."