A CONSULTANT who wrote to Worcestershire's health chiefs 16 months ago about problems in the county's hospitals says he is still waiting for a reply.

Reg Johnstone, a consultant anaesthetist at Kidderminster and Alexandra Hospitals and a Wyre Forest District councillor, said he felt entitled to speak out following the lack of response.

His revelation follows fresh claims that hospital staff are being "gagged" by managers within Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Coun Johnstone said he was reprimanded two years ago after contacting the media with his concerns, and had to agree not to access Trust information.

He then met former Trust chairman Harold Musgrove and spoke to him about hospital problems. He said he was told to write to him.

"I sent a letter in November 2001 to the chief executive, the chairman, the clinical director of anaesthesia, two medical directors and the clinical risk manager," he said.

"I didn't even have the courtesy of a reply from any of them."

Coun Johnstone said he then met current chairman Michael O'Riordan last year and sent the same letter to him.

"I had a brief acknowledgement from the chairman at the end of last year, and nothing whatsoever since," he said.

"It doesn't matter if you make complaints through the relevant channels; absolutely nothing gets done anyway."

Coun Johnstone said he had concerns about a range of issues, including out of date equipment and a poor risk management system, many of which were still relevant today.

Mr O'Riordan wrote to the Evening News last month, denying staff were being "gagged" and saying the Trust had a Public Disclosure Policy.

But Kidderminster Health Concern chairman Malcolm Cooper pointed to a letter sent by former chief executive Ruth Harrison to all consultants in October 2000.

In the letter, she states: "The media must not be contacted directly about Trust business without my approval."

Mr Cooper said he was not aware of any change to this policy.

"Michael O'Riordan is saying there is no gagging policy," he said. "This letter gives the real truth.

"My understanding from medical staff is there is still tremendous pressure on them not to talk to the media."

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said Ruth Harrison replied to Dr Johnstone's letter last December.

"The chairman is happy to speak to him about his concerns, and his door is always open," she said.

Dr Johnstone denied having seen any letter from Ms Harrison.