Town's £3m hospital is approved

Plans for a new £3m hospital have been approved by a health trust.

The new 24-bed hospital will replace the existing one in Alcester, South Warwickshire. It will also have places for 15 day patients.

A spokesman for the South Warwickshire Primary Care Trust said the current outdated buildings had long been in need of replacement.

Part of the existing site is being sold to a consortium of GPs who will then develop and run the new premises.

'Vital for community'

The plans were approved by the West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority.

Stratford-upon-Avon MP John Maples said : "A replacement hospital is vital for the community, and this has been acknowledged for several years.

"However it is excellent news that the report for the West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority has deemed the development of the replacement hospital as urgent."