THE Health Concern parliamentary crusade is not a battle against Labour but the Tories too, Dr Taylor stressed.

The independent candidate claimed democracy was not working because the Government system had failed both groups and individuals' concerns.

Although Labour has borne the brunt of the backlash over the decision to downgrade Kidderminster Hospital, Dr Taylor recalled it was the Conservatives who introduced both capital charges and the private finance initiative (PFI) into the NHS.

Capital charges for NHS assets were introduced in an attempt to put services on a par with private hospitals.

Dr Taylor said: "This meant on average eight per cent of a hospital's income was not available for patient care.

"Why should a state-run service for everyone have to operate on a par with the private sector, which is only available for a few?"

Dr Taylor blamed the PFI-backed building of the new Worcester hospital as the cause of the closure of acute inpatient services and downgrading of Kidderminster's A&E department.

He said: "The previous Tory Government introduced this. Amazingly it has been welcomed and pursued vigorously by the Labour Government.

"Many experts believe this will place a potentially fatal financial strain on the NHS in the future."

He also stressed Health Concern was not impressed with the Tories pledge to carry out an independent review of Worcestershire Health Services, if elected.

He said: "This would be overseen by the same civil servants responsible for the drastic downgrading in the first place and would thus be unlikely to come up with a different answer."

He added: "Total secrecy exists about details passed between civil servants at regional and central level.

"This state of affairs has existed under Governments of both parties despite claims of openness by them."