A TOP consultant has backed the new regime at Worcester's under-fire hospital after a damning report by a medical expert.

Noor Ahmed, chairman of Worcestershire's medical staff committee, says chan-ges to the county's health service management are starting to improve hospital conditions.

He spoke in the wake of the report by Prof Sir Peter Morris, president of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, who visited the hospital in March.

Mr Ahmed said the management of Graham Smith, since he was appointed as the acute trust's acting chief executive in March, had been "a breath of fresh air".

"There's a glimmer of hope. The chief executive has done an excellent job so far."

He said Mr Smith had talked to clinicians, to develop a feel for their problems.

Mr Ahmed's optimism follows the criticism of Worcestershire Royal Hospital from Prof Sir Peter Morris, president of The Royal College of Surgeons.

Prof Sir Peter said surgeons had told him of "innumerable problems" at the hospital when he visited on Wednesday, March 26.

In the May edition of the College's newsletter, he said he was told of problems including:

Inadequate beds.

Lack of availability of clinical notes.

An electric radiology system which did not work properly.

Inadequate staff numbers on the wards.

Inefficient theatres.

Poor management.

He also said the hospital had "probably the worst car parking provision for patients and staff in England".

"This stems from the fact that the new hospital was designed to replace the two existing hospitals in Worcester before the decision was made to downsize Kidderminster to an elective service," he said.

"Thus the increase of 40 per cent in medical and surgical emergencies coming into Worcester has virtually submerged the hospital."

He said he would be following up the situation with the Department of Health.

"Now consultants at the hospital have spoken out about the problems that have been reported to us repeatedly since the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital," said Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor, a retired consultant.