THE Prime Minister has ruled out a return of accident and emergency and inpatients to Kidderminster Hospital.

In a letter to Wyre Forest District Council chairman John Gordon, Tony Blair stated he was satisfied the county health shake-up arose from medical requirements and stressed it was backed by district doctors and physicians.

And he urged the authority, which has opposed the downgrading, to act responsibly and make the changes work.

He wrote: "I am satisfied that the future model of services in Worcestershire has already been subject to rigorous assessment, and, that there was no medically viable plan put forward which could have retained A&E and inpatient medicine at Kidderminster.

"I hope that the district council will play its part as a responsible authority in making these changes work to the benefit of local people rather than pretending it is possible to return to services which the local medical community could no longer support."

Mr Blair wrote after promising to look into the hospital downgrading after meeting flood victims in Bewdley who told him they were more concerned about county health changes.

However, Councillor Gordon, of Health Concern, said the authority was determined to carry on the fight to restore services on behalf of the thousands of people who have backed the campaign.

He pointed out the Prime Minister's letter had been sent on the same day council representatives met health minister Yvette Cooper and gave her an alternative proposal based on the King's Fund report.

He said: "The fight still goes on. Once Ms Cooper has examined this alternative proposal we would like a meeting sometime in the New Year."

Campaigners stress they were never offered the King's Fund Report in full.

The report offered, in addition to the current ambulatory care unit and step down, day case and GP beds, an intermediate consultant-led A&E department with 24-hour medical staff cover supported by 24-hour cover by anaesthetists and physicians with diagnostic support.

It also proposed 25 beds for inpatient elective surgery, an elective orthopaedic or surgical unit and 25 inpatient beds for acute mental health.

Mr Gordon has responded to Mr Blair stating: "The local community had hoped you would have played your part as a responsible Prime Minister in ensuring Wyre Forest and South Shropshire would have high quality, safe and accessible hospital services instead of to use your word 'pretending' the Government is listening to what we say about local hospital services.

"You have always said that people should have the hospital they want, where they want and when they want.

"The community wants a full range of hospital services in Kidderminster and we want them now."