HORRIFIED Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor is "absolutely devastated" that hi-tech equipment worth thousands of pounds has been taken out of Kidderminster Hospital.

After finding out a video link between Kidderminster nurses and their colleagues in Worcester and Redditch had been removed, he insisted the equipment be re-installed immediately.

The revelation came after a particular incident involving Bewdley factory worker, Alister Drapier.

He was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital after crushing one of his fingers in an accident at work in Stourport, but was sent to Selly Oak Hospital for treatment after an X-ray.

Dr Taylor argued such wasted trips could be avoided if telemedicine was used to assess such patients at Kidderminster Hospital's minor injuries unit.

This would involve sending medical images to experts at Worcester or Redditch who would decide where they should be treated.

He also called for a change in ambulance and hospital protocols and the appointment of a Minor Injuries Unit doctor.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive John Rostill responded by saying a review was to be carried out into the co-ordination of ambulance and hospital services.

Dr Taylor's joy at this breakthrough soon turned to anger, however, when it was revealed the video facility had been removed and only an X-ray link remained between the three hospitals.

He said: "If we had been told (when the video link was taken out) we would have kicked up a tremendous stink because it was the one thing that was given to us when Kidderminster lost its A&E department.

Link for our people

"That was our video link for our people and it has got to be put back in," he said, pointing out that a review could not be carried out into the protocols unless the video link was reinstated.

Dr Taylor made his comments after Trust spokesman, Richard Haynes, confirmed the video link was removed last year "because it wasn't being used".

Mr Haynes said: "That was with the agreement of all clinical staff involved at all the different sites including A&E staff in Worcester, Redditch and Kidderminster."

He added there was no doubt the remaining telemedicine equipment was still saving unnecessary journeys from Kidderminster to Worcester with nurses being able to call on expert help to decide on treatments.

On the protocols review, Mr Rostill said: "I've spoken to the chief executive of Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Trust, Russell Hamilton, and we have both agreed it is appropriate to review the existing protocols, which is something I have already discussed with Richard Taylor."