INDEPENDENT MP Richard Taylor pressed the case for the return of emergency services to Kidderminster Hospital at Westminster.

In a Commons adjournment debate, he called for the Government to take action on the "crucial issue" - but was immediately rebuffed by Health Minister Hazel Blears.

Dr Taylor said it was unfair that places with smaller populations than Kidderminster had retained "far more than we have".

He gave the examples of Hexham, Kendal, Bishop Aukland, Banbury, and Neath and said this was to "name but a few".

The Wyre Forest MP called on the Government to act on work by the Royal College of Physicians which stated there was "no reason" to completely shut the emergency facilities at any hospital.

He said acting on this advice would "defuse the terrible anxiety" felt by local people at the loss of the service in Kidderminster.

But Mrs Blears quickly extinguished any hopes the Government may have had a change of heart.

She said: "I'm not aware that any compelling evidence has been produced to convince the health community of Ministers that it would be safe and viable to provide blue light emergency care from Kidderminster."

During the debate, Dr Taylor took the opportunity to state he was "delighted with the changes which are occurring at the top of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust".

He said he hoped to establish a better working relationship with the person who succeeds Harold Musgrove - with whom he clashed repeatedly.

However Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said he was concerned Mr Musgrove's replacement should not be a "Government placeman who does the Government's bidding."

Mrs Blears promised this would not be the case - stating the new chairman would be chosen by the independent NHS Appointments Commission.

"There is no question of the chairs and other trust members being placements of the Government or anyone else," she added.