COUNTY consultants have given an astonishing vote of no confidence in health chiefs over the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital.

In a massive shot in the arm for campaigners fighting to restore services to Kidderminster, consultants overwhelmingly backed the motion lambasting the county health shake-up.

It means surgeons, physicians and anaesthetists from Evesham to Hagley agree the changes are wrong.

They said patient care has decreased since the moves and staff morale had dropped with progress and innovation in local healthcare also having slowed.

It is a massive u-turn for many consultants from Worcester and Redditch hospitals who initially backed the controversial shake-up.

The vote of no confidence by the Medical Staff Committee, which represents county consultants, was taken against two health bodies - Worcestershire Health Authority, which masterminded the plan which saw Kidderminster lose blue-light A&E and inpatient services, and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which implemented the blueprint.

The vote vindicates the warnings of Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor who was elected in protest against the downgrading.

His opponents, principally former Labour MP David Lock, dubbed his campaign out-of-touch and parochial.

However, Dr Taylor this week refused to state "I told you so," preferring to concentrate on the importance of the consultants' vote.

He said: "This is absolutely dramatic and unheralded. Consultants across the county have now discovered the changes are wrong.

"I am, of course, delighted they have recognised the plans are unworkable. Outgoing trust chairman Harold Musgrove has already admitted they cannot be implemented.

"This sends a serious message about the state of healthcare in the county and it is something I will take up with health ministers. They will now have to accept this is not just an argument emanating from North Worcestershire."

He added: "This boosts our argument for the return of emergency services to Kidderminster. We will not let it rest.

"I see no reason why more elective surgery cannot return to Kidderminster to help ease the problem. I will be working with Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust to achieve that goal.

"And, of course, we will continue the fight for the restoration of emergency services."