PLANS to reopen a disused hospital centre have been mooted.

Ulverston councillor Bharath Rajan suggested the closed Gill Rise should open its doors once again to serve the community.

He raised the issue at a meeting of the Ulverston Town Council on Monday night.

Cllr Rajan said: “Gill Rise was originally intended as a neurological centre.

“The idea was that, once we had a consultant in the area, it would become a neurological centre where consultations could be held.

“The excuse given for the closure was the shortage of staff."

Gill Rise opened in 2002, as a replacement for the then soon-to-be-demolished Coniston Ward.

It opened at the same time as the Ulverston Health Centre, and faced closure in 2008.

Cllr Rajan had previously raised concerns about the building on Stanley Street at an earlier council meeting in February.

He said: “My revision is that we restore this kind of facility.

“The problem was that we couldn't get qualified consultants and specialists in neurology to take charge of the unit.

“We have a consultant in the area now who was very interested in bringing back Gill Rise as a neurological facility. That is what my vision is.”

While Cllr Rajan hopes the specialist centre can reopen, he admits his fellow councillors may see it as a more general solution to many health problems.

They approved the proposal that the town council will work in partenrship with the health centre and the Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust to bring the building back into use for the community.

Cllr Jannette Jenkinson said at Monday night's meeting: “It is a disgrace that it has been closed and is not being used.

“We are here to represent the public and that is what the building should do too.”

Gill Rise could ease the burden on Furness hospitals to provide beds for patients.

It boasts 19 beds, as well as consultation rooms.

Cllr Rajan said: “It was a building that was purpose-built and given all the modern facilities. It should not be allowed to wither on the line with its doors shut.

“I think it's a real shame there are 19 beds available in there when they're complaining about a shortage.

“Under the circumstances, it should not be left unused.

“We could accommodate for after care or anything else.”