A SECOND private clinic offering single measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations is to open in York - despite reports of falling patient numbers at the city's existing clinic.

Dr Stuart Wallace, who lives in York but works as a paediatrician in an NHS hospital outside the city, is offering vaccinations on July 28 at the York Clinic for Complementary Medicine in Tadcaster Road.

Under the company name of Healthcare Limited, the clinic will offer single vaccinations to children whose parents are concerned about the controversial MMR triple jab.

London-based Direct Remedies, which set up a mobile clinic in York last year, has this month reported a drop in the number of patients from a high of 120 per session down to 30 or 40.

Spokeswoman Yohani DeSilva said they had been hampered by mumps vaccine supply problems - a hitch which is affecting private clinics across the country.

But Dr Wallace said he had been inundated with calls from people wanting to get their children vaccinated in York and had witnessed no drop in demand.

He said: "I have been seeing people on an ad hoc basis, but the demand was so high that I decided to make it a more regular thing.

"I think if there has been a drop in demand it's down to clinics being unable to offer the mumps vaccine.

"There are supply issues, there always has been surrounding the mumps vaccine. But I have got a supply and am able to offer all three jabs."

The Department of Health insists there is no link between MMR and autism or bowel disease.

Dr Wallace said he agreed with the Government's view, but wanted to offer parents a choice.

The Healthcare Limited clinic takes place at the York Clinic of Complementary Medicine, Tadcaster Road, on Saturday June 28. Call 01904 789335 for details.

The next Direct Remedies clinic takes place at The Grange Hotel, Clifton, on Saturday July 12. Call 0845 1304595 for details.

Updated: 08:53 Friday, June 27, 2003