HEALTH Secretary Alan Milburn has opened up the prospect of more life-saving services remaining at a downgraded Kidderminster hospital.

These could include treating time-critical conditions such as heart attacks and asthma cases.

Nurses could be trained to administer clot-busting drugs.

Wyre Forest Labour MP David Lock is pressing for a Worcestershire renal unit to be based at Kidderminster, and Mr Milburn has agreed to examine these proposals.

Major trauma victims would still be taken to Worcester, but Mr Lock stressed protocols needed to be drawn up to establish exactly what accident and emergency services could be offered at Kidderminster.

The Health Secretary made the comments after a delegation of GPs visited him yesterday.

"We were given complete reassurances that all our concerns would be addressed effectively," said Dr James Goodman, chairman of the Wyre Forest General Practitioners Association.

Dr Richard Taylor, chairman of the Save Kidderminster Hospital Campaign, who did not go to London, said Mr Milburn's announcement was "absolutely staggering, if we take it at face value".

"We welcome Mr Milburn's promise that certain core services will be maintained but we need to know the details. It could mean as little as stabilising heart attack or asthma patients in the minor injuries unit before sending them to Worcester."

He added it was "sad" that GPs who vehemently opposed the changes were now accepting them as a fait accompli.