SURELY Mr Musgrove, chairman of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, must realise that loss of staff and fragility of services at Kidderminster Hospital is a direct result of Worcestershire Health Authority's plans.

It was inevitable that staff would leave in this situation, as the authority was warned during consultation.

The fragility of services at Kidderminster has nothing to do with alleged "alarmist" statements, but everything to do with mishandling of the county's health services by the health authority.

Mr Musgrove says the Royal College of Surgeons would have a fit if they knew exactly what is going on.

Is it not his responsibility to inform the Royal Colleges exactly what is going on?

The ITU beds at Kidderminster have been closed, but have not been replaced at Worcester.

Services are already seriously overstretched at Worcester and there are fears about safety at Castle Street.

And yet patients are supposed to feel confident that they are being offered a safe service!

To paraphrase the words of Bud Flanagan: "Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Musgrove?"

JEAN COOPER

Trimpley