THE campaign to create a West Mercia Health Authority has been quashed by the Government.

Health minister John Hutton has announced Worcestershire Health Authority will be part of a new "super authority" to also cover Coventry, Warwickshire and Herefordshire.

The plan was the Government's preferred choice but Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor and health campaigners had lobbied for the West Mercia option.

Dr Taylor, Ludlow MP Matthew Green and Herefordshire MP Paul Keetch said it would have made more sense to mirror the area covered by West Mercia Police and probation service.

And it would have meant 20,000 South Shropshire folk who currently use Kidderminster Hospital would have remained in the same authority.

Dr Taylor said: "I am disappointed but not surprised at the Government's decision - it was inevitable.

"I have asked the health minister how many Government consultations end up with a preferred option being overturned but have yet to receive an answer."

The new body will be named Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Strategic Health Authority.

It is not known where the new health authority will be based - or if jobs will be axed.

Nationally, 29 giant health authorities will replace the existing 99.

Responsibility for distributing cash to GP surgeries, hospitals and other local services has shifted to primary care trusts.

Dr Taylor said: "Even though we will not be in our preferred health authority set up the most important factor is the Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust will have the power to buy in services locally and they can do so from wherever they wish."

By 2004 the PCTs will be responsible for allocating 75 per cent of the NHS budget, compared to just 15 per cent handled by GP fundholders in 1997.

The new health authorities will come into force in April although the legislation to set them up will not pass through Parliament until October.