Last updated 10:52, Friday, 14 November 2008

Community leaders have backed plans for a new health campus in Brampton in principle – provided it doesn’t affect existing local services.

They remain concerned that valuable community initiatives will be lost unless more thought is put in to the proposals.

A public meeting was held last Thursday to discuss ambitious development plans.

Cumbria Primary Care Trust (PCT), alongside other agencies including the county council, is working to transform cottage hospitals across the county, making them fit to provide 21st century healthcare.

In Brampton, the PCT wants to create a health campus – combining in-patient beds, GP services, pharmacy and outpatient clinics with community facilities – such as meeting rooms and library – under one roof.

Community association chairman Mike Godridge, said: “We fully support this new health and care project and want to work with the new partners in helping to improve services to the community.

“But we need to protect the community facilities that we provide at the centre, and we hope that we can secure these through a constructive dialogue with the councils and other partners involved.”