A COUNSELLOR says he is treating more and more hospital workers for stress - yet health bosses are threatening to close counselling services throughout the county.

Tim Young, who works at a GP surgery close to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, said there had been a considerable increase in the number of medical staff coming to him in the past six months.

Mr Young's revelation comes at a time when South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust is proposing to scrap the counselling service in the region.

"I understand they have access to the occupational health department and they have a counsellor there, but they are uncomfortable about seeing an in-house counsellor," he said.

"They talk about pressures of work and poor management. They feel they have no support from management, and they have poor morale."

Members of Worcestershire's counselling agency have written to PCT chief executive Mike Ridley to complain about the proposal to abolish the counselling service.

They said they had not been consulted during the review of services, and said Mr Ridley had ignored their previous letters.

They criticised the proposal to replace the service with two graduate mental health workers and a psychologist.

"The British Psychological Society has recently publicly stated that the use of these workers is inappropriate because they are not sufficiently trained or experienced to be employed as therapists," they said.

The counsellors also attacked the reasoning behind the proposal, which suggested it was the need for "equity of care" in the region.

"Equity based on non-provision of services does not exactly enhance consumer choice," they said.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said the trust offered counselling services for hospital staff on all three of its sites.

South Worcestershire PCT chief executive Mike Ridley said he would be replying directly to the individuals concerned about the proposed withdrawal of the counselling service.

He said this was part of the consultation process, and all comments would be included in the consultation.