COUNCILLORS have clashed with medical bureaucrats over plans to create a health complex in Moreton.

Birkenhead and Wallasey Primary Care Trust propose to bring together the town's four GP practices on one site in Pasture Road, to be known as Moreton Health Park. But local councillors have condemned the trust's consultation process in connection with the venture.

Cllr Chris Blakeley, chairman of Wirral Council's social care committee said: "Over the last few month my colleagues and I have met with the PCT and the doctors practices and agreed a formal consultation process to ensure an open, fair, and transparent process that, when completed, would truly reflect the views of the patients.

"I was absolutely horrified to learn that despite that agreement, the PCT is running petitions in favour of the scheme at GP's surgeries and positively encouraging people to sign."

Colleague Cllr Suzanne Moseley said: "While we fully support improved health facilities for the people of Moreton, it has to be something they want not something that just the PCT and GP's surgeries want. It is clear to us that the PCT will stop at nothing to push this scheme through, regardless of the views of their patients and the wider community."

She added: "I would have hoped that the Primary Care Trust would have learned its lesson about flawed consultation when it closed wards six and seven at Victoria Central Hospital (in Wallasey). Clearly they want to ensure that the consultation process comes out skewed in their favour."

A PCT spokeswoman said a leaflet setting out details of the proposals had been sent out to 15,000 households registered with the four practices. Patients had been invited to indicate whether or not they agreed with the scheme.

A public consultation exercise had been launched in June and would end in September .In addition five consultation events had been arranged at centres across Moreton and Leasowe.

The spokeswoman said: "There has never been any question of attempting to skew the consultation process.

"Birkenhead and Wallasey PCT remains committed to seeking the views of patients and the public on its proposals for developing and improving primary health care."