AMID rumours a £100,000 Intermediate Care Unit at Cinderford's Dilke Hospital may never open, a key member of the Hospital Friends says the money could have been better spent.

Maurice Bent says the League of Friends of the Dilke Hospital has donated £50,000 towards much-needed endoscopy services at the hospital, but despite much campaigning improvements are still awaited.

Mr Bent says he fears the Intermediate Care Unit may never open and the money might have been better spent on other services like endoscopy.

The Review has been trying to find out about the future of the Intermediate Care Unit for some time after tip-offs that the project was in trouble but information has been difficult to obtain from health authorities.

In response to specific questions about the cost of the project so far, its future prospects and the prospects for any staff hired to manage the facility, a Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust spokesman replied: "It is important that the type of care provided in this unit reflects the current and future needs of local people and that maximum benefit is gained from the investment made in improved facilities.

"This is part of wider work being carried out by the local GP Commissioning Cluster and NHS Gloucestershire to review how building space at Dilke Memorial Hospital can be best used to accommodate a greater range of services in the future."

He added: "In terms of staff – they are continuing to provide care in the local community, although they are employed by the County Council."

The spokesman suggested Dr Roy Sharma, as chair of the GP Commissioning Cluster, might be asked for comment.

The Review has tried to speak with Dr Sharma on the matter but so far he has not responded to our request.

Mr Bent also says he has found it hard to find out what is going on.

"I think we are having the wool pulled over our eyes," he said.

The Intermediate Care Unit – a bedded facility geared towards patient rehabilitation – was mooted after a government suggestion that the need for such units should be assessed by PCTs on a region-by-region basis.