NHS centre plan in limbo after funding loss

Plans to build a new health education centre in a city have been put on indefinite hold due to a loss of funding.

The facility, which was set to be built next to Hereford County Hospital, was expected to attract students and aspiring health workers into the city.

Wye Valley NHS Trust said in 2024 it wanted the site to "combine state-of-the-art simulation, clinical skills rooms, a modern library and information hub and a large bespoke lecture theatre".

But a spokesperson for the trust confirmed this month: "The scheme got planning permission last year but is currently paused while we consider alternative funding approaches – so no timescale currently."

The initial proposal was included in the trust's annual report for 2023-24.

However, a year later there was no mention of the facility, despite a planning application for the project having been submitted in late 2024 and approved in September.

Herefordshire Council had earmarked £6m to get the scheme off the ground, which it said would be funded by a "return on investment".

But its latest draft capital budget showed this sum as "removed" from the current financial year's spending – which their cabinet member for finance, councillor Pete Stoddart, confirmed.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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