THE campaign to restore services to Kidderminster Hospital is not over despite health chiefs approving a controversial project for the site.

Health Concern, set up to oppose the downgrading of the hospital, has come out fighting after the £14 million diagnostic and treatment centre was given final approval.

The campaigners have dubbed the DTC a waste of money saying it cannot compensate for the loss of a blue-light A and E and inpatient services in September 2000.

However, Health Concern leader on Wyre Forest District Council Liz Davies stressed approval of the project had not vanquished the campaign to restore services.

She said: "The campaign carries on. We still want the return of inpatient services and a blue-light A and E.

"We may not get an all-singing, all-dancing A and E at first but we could start with a doctor-led emergency service. However, a blue-light A and E would still be our ultimate aim.

"Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust has identified the need for more services and we certainly have not given up the fight."

West Midlands South Health Authority has backed the business case for the DTC which is set to be completed by mid-2004.

It will include a minor injuries unit, primary care centre, outpatient surgery, three operating theatres, multi-purpose intervention rooms and 20 short stay beds.

Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust chief executive Peter Forrester said the centre would significantly improve the quality of healthcare provision in the community.

He said: "The development of DTCs is a central initiative in modernising health services.

"We are delighted that Kidderminster Hospital will be the site for one of the first one-stop centres.

"The integration of primary and secondary care means the patients experience will improve and the quality of care will increase."

Work was due to start on the hospital's E block, which will contain theatres, outpatients and the MIU, next month.

However, it has been put back to October and will be open to the public by December 2003.

B Block, which will contain the beds, is set to open by June 2004.