PLANS to improve Clevedon Hospital will still go ahead say care bosses, despite the primary care trust having to save £11 million. North Somerset Primary Care Trust announced this week it is to commission a site survey and financial option appraisal for p

PLANS to improve Clevedon Hospital will still go ahead say care bosses, despite the primary care trust having to save £11 million.North Somerset Primary Care Trust announced this week it is to commission a site survey and financial option appraisal for providing a community hospital in Clevedon.This would look at development on the current site or a new build on a new site.The trust also said it will carry out an option appraisal on potential sites for a primary care resource centre in Portishead.The new centres would include GPs' surgeries and rooms for other types of consultations including chiropody or physiotherapy.The board also resolved to set up a multi-agency group to undertake a review of facilities and to prioritise improvements for the rural areas of North Somerset.The announcement comes just days after it was revealed Weston General Hospital was cutting 60 jobs and 56 beds over a two-year period to save cash.Hospital managers said the posts would go through natural waste where staff leave and are not replaced.PCT interim chief executive John Haines said: "Our key driver is to work towards a balanced financial picture for the health community of North Somerset."We have formed a joint recovery board with Weston Area Health Trust to ensure we deliver this and our Local Delivery Plan sets out the actions we intend to take to lead us to a position of break even."Money will remain tight for us, as for the rest of the NHS but we are confident we can make savings while still continuing to make vital investments such as those at Clevedon, Portishead and the rural areas and not reducing services to patients."Councillors in Clevedon said they were glad plans to develop medical services in the town had not been dropped as a result of the cuts.Councillor John Norton-Sealey said: "I am very pleased to see that the focus on improving medical facilities in Clevedon and keeping a hospital in Clevedon is still a priority for the trust despite it having to make such large financial savings."I am sure the people of Clevedon will feel the same way.