A HEALTH watchdog has urged Alan Milburn to name the date for a review of surgery at Kidderminster Hospital.

The Health Secretary pledged an independent review of elective surgery on the eve of the general election.

Now Kidderminster and District Community Health Council has written to him asking to confirm the date.

CHC chairman Pauline Davis also sought an assurance no changes would be made to hospital buildings until the review was complete.

There is widespread concern about the gutting of major buildings' later this year in preparation for a £14 million ambulatory care centre.

She wrote: "We welcome this independent review and would like to know the date when it will take place and to express a wish to be involved in order to fulfil our statutory role of representing the interests of the people living in the Kidderminster and district area.

" I would like an assurance that no physical alterations to the buildings are undertaken on the Kidderminster Hosp-ital site until review results are known."

Meanwhile, Health Concern has called on Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to halt proposed building work at Kidderminster.

Group leader Elizabeth Davies said: "We do not want another re-run of Investing in Excellence. We want the independent review to be exactly that.

"We also want assurances that open consultation will be carried out and that current plans for Kidderminster Hospital will be put on hold, pending completion of the review."

The trust said "in the event" of a review, it would take into account timing and building.

A spokeswoman said: "The trust has been working with staff and users to plan and design the services and facilities required.

"One of the key objectives of the planning is to ensure there is sufficient flexibility in the scheme to incorporate developments in the way services are delivered and ensure that it will be a modern state-of-the-art facility for the people of Worcestershire."