A SPOKESMAN for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We welcome this draft report, which has been sent to us for comment, as it examines an issue of major concern to our patients.

"The good news is that we are already making significant progress in reducing the number of cancelled operations at our hospitals.

"Figures for April, 2004 show that we have halved the number of cancelled operations compared to the same period last year - and treated more patients.

"This is due to a number of steps we have taken, including the successful transfer of services to the Treatment Centre at Kidderminster, the use of protected "ring-fenced" elective beds at the Alexandra Hospital and better waiting list management.

"The report correctly identifies that there are many elements to the problem, which we cannot solve on our own. Our NHS colleagues in the county's PCTs have key roles to play, and our partners in social care.

"We are working closely with them to reduce the number of inappropriate admissions to our hospitals, which puts unnecessary pressure on emergency care and bed capacity.

"We are also enlisting their support to make sure that as soon as patients can be safely discharged from hospital, whether to go home or be cared for in a community hospital or nursing home, then that happens.

"All members of the health economy are working together and doing everything we can to make sure we deliver the right care in the right place at the right time.

"We have not resolved the problem yet but we hope that people will recognise that progress is being made."