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AT the public meeting about the future of Lea Castle Hospital on February 13 it was unanimously resolved to pass on an additional fourth option: "Maintain services for Worcestershire patients, under the management of the Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership Trust, on the Lea Castle site but on a smaller financially viable part to meet existing requirements." This option must be seriously considered, and hopefully adopted, because 92 per cent of the current staff live nearby and their dedication and expertise should be retained for the benefit of the users of the service.

IWAS disappointed to learn that it was reported to a recent Acute Hospitals Trust Board meeting that Kidderminster Hospital's minor injuries unit, strengthened by the presence of a doctor from 9am until 5pm on weekdays, is not being fully used. The trial of this enhanced service was originally suggested to cover 24 hours a day, seven days a week for one year and to this end extremely generous financial support was offered by the Hospital League of Friends. However, the Trust turned this down and settled for a trial that I believe was likely to fail. How can local people realise that between 9am and 5pm only, when their GPs are available in any case, they can go to the emergency unit at the hospital with minor illnesses that probably could be coped with by their GPs anyway? What is needed is an enhanced emergency service when GP surgeries are not open. At my recent meeting with the chief executive of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, he felt that a survey of Wyre Forest patients attending A&E in Worcester needed to be done to see why they were going to Worcester rather than to Kidderminster. I suggested it would be vital to assess the number going in evenings and weekends, when the Kidderminster emergency unit has no doctor, to learn how useful it could be if a doctor was present from at least 9am to 9 pm, seven days per week. This must be our aim.

LAST Monday the Health and Social Care Bill sailed through the Commons unamended and now goes to the House of Lords. This Bill combines the functions of the three existing commissions (the Healthcare Commission, the Mental Health Act Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection) into one new body, the Care Quality Commission. There are concerns that this is an economy measure and that the resulting body will not be able to inspect and monitor all the services within its remit. Thus it is potentially a worrying change. The Bill also strengthens the regulation of the medical and other professions in the wake of the Shipman disaster and there can be no logical objection to this.

THE Valentines celebrated their 20th anniversary with a concert last Saturday. Their performance was as polished as usual and their reputation ensures the presence of accomplished guests: the dramatic, coloratura soprano, Kiera Lyness, the virtuoso, concert pianist, Jonathan French and the Aber Valley Male Voice Choir with their sonorous Welsh sound. We look forward to enjoying the Valentines for the next 20 years.

If readers wish to write to Dr Taylor, they should address correspondence to his constituency office at 137 Franche Road, Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5AP.

11:45am Thursday 21st February 2008

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