HEALTH chiefs have failed miserably in their attempts to build a new Wharfedale hospital, it has been claimed.

Graham Hoult, lay member of the Leeds North West Primary Care Group, says he warned against the Garnett's Mill site in Otley at last year's selection process.

And now he is demanding to know why the second closest option - High Royds Hospital at Menston - was not swiftly put into place when the Garnett site fell through this week.

"The mill owners have to my

knowledge had a series of plans for this site all involving a third party and to date all have come to nought."

Mr Hoult said he suspected the

decision could be due to problems with the land including site decontamination and the enormous cost of building a relief road.

"All of these things were glossed over in the option appraisal. I made strong protestations through the PCG about this in a formal letter to Leeds Health Authority and to my knowledge there has been no individual reply and only a general summary of comments upon all the letters received."

He said he would now be urging the trust to take the safest route and go for High Royds Hospital.

"I will be demanding to know why the very close second favourite option of a space at High Royds Hospital site has not been immediately brought into play."

Mr Hoult said any new site would now have to be appraised - which would add to the already lengthy process.

"I get no satisfaction from saying I told you so only a genuine fear that we are all being badly served by this flawed process.

"It is time for the health authority to focus the trust's attention on the needs of patients across the full range of care and not just the high profile high cost stuff at Leeds General Infirmary and St James's Hospital."

l The PCG group is made up of health professionals and lay people. It holds regular meetings with

health groups, councils and other organisations and has a strong influence on decisions made in the health industry.

n See Comment P6.