WYRE Forest MP Mark Garnier recently met with the chairman of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to discuss the future of Worcestershire hospitals, including Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre.

Mr Garnier raised constituents' concerns directly with Caragh Merrick - who was appointed in September 2016 - and showed examples of inadequate care.

The meeting also gave Mr Garnier an opportunity to discuss the situation at Worcestershire Royal Hospital over the winter period.

During the meeting, they agreed that the new management team would bring radical change to the troubled hospital, with significant potential to reverse the problems suffered over the last five years.

Mr Garnier commended the efforts of frontline staff, who work tirelessly to care for patients, but both agreed that management systems and leadership styles have left the trust in a poor state. The welcome intervention of NHS Improvement - there to remedy poor management practices - and that Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has the trust on his radar were both seen as positives now that action is underway.

Ms Merrick outlined her ambition to ensure a high quality of patient experience and care at all hospitals, with a particular focus on the Worcestershire Royal and the strain of A&E facilities.

Mark Garnier will meet with the new chief executive of the trust, Michelle McKay, at the end of the month to discuss implementation in further detail and the three will continue with frequent and regular meetings to monitor how improvement is progressing.

The MP for Wyre Forest is also encouraging his constituents to have their say about plans for Worcestershire's three main hospitals. To complete the online survey before the consultation ends on March 30, visit worcsfuturehospitals.co.uk.