MEMBERS of a health watchdog leapt to the defence of the Bromsgrove press at a meeting last Wednesday evening.

Graham Vickery, chairman of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Primary Care Trust, accused the Advertiser/Messenger of 'scare mongering' about the possible closure of the minor injuries unit at the town's Princess of Wales hospital.

But members of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Community Health Council (CHC) argued that it was the press' responsibility to report the concerns of staff.

CHC member John Browne said: "It is the duty of the press to bring forward these questions and concerns."

Moira Morris, the CHC's chief officer, said: "If staff are not given information, rumours start and issues get clouded."

During the meeting Mr Vickery re-stated his position on the minor injuries unit.

"Services are not going to change. If there was something definitive to say, that would deserve publicity, but it's difficult to counter things that won't happen."

Rumours amongst staff have also been circulating that the outpatients' clinic at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital, which is controlled by the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, could be under threat of closure.

But Moira Morris revealed that she had had a call from Graham Smith, chief executive of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, who said they had no intention of withdrawing the service. He admitted the idea had been discussed but it was rejected because it would not be practical to move the clinic because there is nowhere else it could go.