PLANS for a new treatment centre in Andover have been scrapped.

An urgent treatment centre (UTC) was to be created at Andover War Memorial Hospital in a bid to join services up.

As previously reported, the GP-led facility was expected to open by spring 2020 the latest, following initial delays.

However health bosses have now confirmed that the plans will not go ahead.

A new health hub providing services such as blood tests and x-rays could be opened instead.

The UTC was expected to open 12 hours a day, seven days a week and be equipped to deal with minor illnesses and injuries.

But documents published by Hampshire County Council (HCC) revealed there were concerns over the ability of the new service to meet the demand and needs of Andover residents.

An official document presented to HCC’s Adult and Social Care Select Committee revealed that “there is a greater local need amongst the Andover population to support patients to manage complex health problems as opposed to minor injury and illness”.

Health bosses said “there are concerns that the proposed staffing levels, particularly in the afternoon at weekends when no GP is present, would not provide sufficient on site medical cover to manage the more complex patients that may present”.

The official report reads: “The process of both market testing and co-production has therefore concluded that it is not feasible to provide a service offer in Andover to meet the enhanced national UTC standards within available resources.”

All current services in Andover are now expected to be maintained while new plans are drawn up.

In a statement, a NHS West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group spokesperson, said: “Following an extensive evaluation programme with the NHS teams currently providing services in Andover, it has been concluded that an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) would not completely address all of the healthcare needs for people living in Andover.

“We will therefore be continuing the work with our patients, services and local people to develop a comprehensive alternative, which will ensure we can continue to provide high quality services for the people of Andover.

“The current health services in Andover will remain, and we will continue to work together to consider how urgent care services can be integrated together in Andover.

“Our vision for urgent care in Andover is to develop an Integrated Health and Wellbeing Hub, which would carry out services such as blood tests and x-rays, and treat minor injuries and illnesses.”

In a joint statement North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse and Test Valley Borough Council leader Phil North said: “Investment in Andover Hospital will be critical to the future of our growing town.

“We announced the formation of a task force led jointly by us, which will seek to work with the CCG and Hospital Trust to make sure that Andover gets what it needs.”