Plans to replace Bicester’s Community Hospital have descended into farce, a campaigner claimed last night.

Hospital campaigner Les Sibley spoke out after NHS Oxfordshire, the county’s primary care trust, confirmed its tendering process had stalled amid concerns it may have left itself open to being sued.

Developers are due to make public their proposals for a replacement to the town’s 12-bed hospital next month, with the PCT expected to make a final decision by the end of the year.

But project manager Tony Burrage said the trust was waiting for legal advice following a number of challenges nationally to public sector scheme tenders.

He added: “We are very keen to avoid any challenges that would be costly and delay the procurement process at a future date.”

In January last year the PCT asked developers to come up with a design for a new community hospital. But instead of developers being given a site and specification, the PCT asked firms to come up with their own proposals.

Dr Michael Curry, chairman of the community participation group set up to ensure local input into the project, said: “The bidding process was very loose and experimental and I think this is unsafe.

“It’s likely they will drop the current process, but the decision has not been taken yet.”

Mr Sibley said the situation had become farcical and chaotic. He added: “People are going to be totally dismayed by what’s going on.”

Tony Baldry added: “I’m also concerned that the longer this project drags out inevitably the more expensive it’s going to become.”

A decision whether to press ahead with the current tendering process is expected to be made by the PCT later this month.