HEALTH bosses say they are "disappointed" after plans to open a new medical centre in Stourport have been delayed.

Construction work on the Stourport Medical Centre, estimated to cost around £7 million, reached the halfway point in March and the site was set to welcome its first patients in Autumn.

But due to an industry wide problem with supplies for essential materials, builders are unable to complete the necessary works and the date of completion has been pushed back.

However, work will still continuing where possible, with windows being fitted and scaffolding being taken down.

The new Stourport Medical Centre, located off Dunley Road, will replace Stourport Health Centre and York House Medical Centre, which bosses at Wyre Forest Health Partnership (WFHP) previously said were outdated, too small and no longer fit for purpose.

Staff and patients at the two sites have merged to cope with challenges brought about by the Covid pandemic.

Clare Nock, chief executive at Wyre Forest Health Partnership, said: “We were greatly looking forward to moving into our new premises in the Autumn and obviously we are disappointed by this news.

"The build team however have done a great job in getting as far as they have, working through an unprecedented global pandemic.

"We will all continue to put every effort into completing the building as soon as possible, but in the mean time we will continue to care for our patients from our existing buildings in Stourport.

"We will update our patients as we know more”.