ONLY 17 days ago, we wrote in this column how time was running out for Worcestershire Acute Hospital's Trust to solve its car parking problem at the county's new Royal Hospital.

The hospital is scheduled to open its doors at the Newtown Road site, in Worcester, in March - but it needs extra car parking spaces and, as yet, it doesn't have them.

What's more, there is still considerable debate about where - and how - the spaces are going to be provided.

City councillors have now discussed the issue. The result? No firm decision.

The good news is that councillors have agreed to try and set up a meeting with the Trust and local residents to iron out the difficulties. But that will, of course, take time.

Readers will, we're sure, wonder what's been going on over the months when this issue should have been resolved.

They're certain to ask how the delays have been allowed to happen and wonder why, if a solution is found, it will be at the very last minute.

Health service managers, councillors and council officers must be well aware that the people who will suffer if there isn't enough parking at the new hospital will be the patients and their visitors.

The new hospital cannot afford to provide an inconvenient service but, if people are unable to find somewhere to park, that will be the result and condemnation will rightly pour on the powers-that-be.