THE future of Thornbury Hospital has been thrown into doubt yet again after a scheme to redevelop the site was further delayed.

NHS South Gloucestershire were supposed to be presenting its final proposals for Thornbury Hospital at South Gloucestershire Council’s health scrutiny select committee next week.

However, despite having three months to prepare its final draft of its emerging themes document the health authority claims it needs more time.

In March Robert Knibbs, lead on the project, said officials would spend the last three months collating responses it had received on its proposals to demolish Thornbury Hospital and Health Centre.

The health authority wanted to replace the hospital and centre with a health and social care campus, with increased outpatient serves but no inpatient beds.

Earlier this year NHS South Gloucestershire received 57 letters from stakeholders, and 2,000 signatures on several petitions, including the 475 Gazette campaign coupons to stop the closure of Henderson ward.

NHS South Gloucestershire has now said it needs more time to gather additional information on the scheme, but should be ready to present its conclusions to the health scrutiny meeting in September.

The health authority has also blamed structural changes within the NHS for part of the delay.

Mr Knibbs, who is to be replaced as project lead by David Tappin next month, said: "The Thornbury Project Board have asked for a more detailed report on some areas of the emerging themes paper before it returns to the South Gloucestershire Council’s health scrutiny select committee for their views.

"Key areas for further work have included a more detailed explanation of the quality of health care a patient would get if they were staying in their own home or in a community residential home."

The delay has raised concerns amongst the local community, who have long campaigned to improve health care provision in the town, and protect the Henderson ward.

Cllr Maggie Tyrrell, Thornbury councillor and member of the Thornbury steering group, said: "We were a little alarmed to discover they are sending the emerging themes back for more information.

"They seem to have been doing this for years now. We are no further forward really and we are still getting quite anxious."

Cllr Shirley Holloway, chairman of the Thornbury Hospital League of Friends, said: "It is very frustrating. We hope the delays won’t affect the final project of getting really good health provision for Thornbury."