DOZENS of people were left fuming outside a meeting on Malvern's healthcare services, after the venue proved too small.

Between 30 and 40 people were unable to get into Priory Lodge Hall for Monday afternoon's public meeting called by South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust.

About 70 members of the public were already packed into the building to have their say on a plan to move two GP surgeries to the Link.

The majority of those unable to get into the hall, many of them elderly, were very angry by the time PCT chief executive Mike Ridley emerged to speak to them. Tom Wells, David Watkins and Alex Stewart-Cleary, councillors and critics of the PCT, also came outside.

Mr Ridley's apology was greeted with jeers from the assembled crowd. However, he said the meeting had to go ahead as advertised. His suggestion that another meeting should be held afterwards was dismissed by the crowd.

Mr Ridley said he would try to find a larger venue for an evening meeting, but many people said they would be unable to return.

Coun Tom Wells told Mr Ridley the debacle was "another example of incompetence" by the PCT.

"You have underestimated this," he said, adding the situation did nothing to assuage fears the PCT was merely carrying out "token consultations".

Ralph and Angela Robotham had travelled from their Cowleigh Bank home for the meeting.

"They don't care about public opinion, whatever they say," said Mrs Robotham.

"I'm extremely annoyed. It's a long way now to go to the doctors' surgery. What they (the PCT) are proposing is to make it twice as difficult."

Barbara Watton, Community Action vice-chairman, said the proposals would mean the transport they provide to surgeries would become insufficient.

Mrs Nancy Bayes, from Barnards Green, said that having to catch buses to go the extra distance would cause her difficulties.

Chemists around Malvern would also be dramatically affected, as people tended to get their prescriptions from pharmacies close to their surgery.