Evesham GP Dr Martin Ounsted raised the Evesham situation when he spoke at a national conference in London last Thursday.

He said the loyal support of current and previous GPs in Evesham Community Hospital for a pittance was rewarded with the proposal by the PCT that they should be summarily dismissed from their responsibilities of looking after patients on the GP ward. Two other wards were proposed for closure, one specialising in orthopaedic rehabilitation, the other the nationally recognised stroke unit opened by Sir Harry Secombe.

"The latter insult had the added injury of being accompanied by the suggestion that these severely disabled people could be nursed in their own homes with little added assistance," he said.

Dr Ounsted told delegates: "These wonderful places are cost effective, save acute hospital admission, are greatly valued by their communities and given a proper job description for the 21st Century could have an invaluable part to play in the total provision of care."

He stressed: "To attempt to destroy the heart of this one will be a hammer blow to the whole concept and once gone will never return."