PLANS for the future of Thornbury Hospital are again taking shape, a year after the project ground to a halt.

Health bosses confirmed this week that a full assessment of the Thornbury community and its health needs has been completed, which will now form the basis of the new hospital.

Last June South Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is leading the project, announced that all previous work including plans, locations and financing would have to be re-done.

Cllr Maggie Tyrrell, one of three town councillors on the Thornbury Hospital Steering Group, said: "We were initially disappointed that there was a problem that delayed the project.

"Now there seems to be some really good solid work going on which will lead to Thornbury getting a modern facility to meet its health needs."

The Thornbury Locality Health and Social Care Needs Assessment, released by the PCT, has identified a much older population in the area compared to the rest of South Gloucestershire, with 1,000 out of the locality’s population of 31,000 aged over 75 years.

The assessment also claimed that as a consequence of the ageing population the number of cases of dementia, diabetes, circulatory and respiratory disorders are expected to rise.

Dr Chris Payne, director of public health for the PCT, said: "It is important to see this assessment in the context of one part of the building blocks of evidence the steering group will need in order to decide what sort of services are provided from Thornbury."

Penny Harris, chief executive of South Gloucestershire PCT, said: "This assessment has identified key issues and what gaps there are which may be addressed through Thornbury or addressed through another number of routes."

However, despite the assessment, health chiefs will still not comment on what specific services may feature in Thornbury’s new hospital.

Robert Knibbs, director of finance for the PCT, said: "There might be a need for a particular service but it might not be operationally viable."

South Gloucestershire PCT is expected to submit its full plans to South Gloucestershire Council next year with building work due to start in 2011.