A PUBLICLY elected health official felt like he was on trial as “a criminal” when he was brought before health chiefs for revealing plans to close acute stroke beds at a Worcester hospital.

Brendan Young refused to reveal the name of whistle-blowers who gave him a document outlining plans to close 16 acute stroke beds at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester and centralise stroke services at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, increasing the number of beds there from 18 to 28.

Mr Young is a shadow governor whose role is to hold the board of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to account.

He stood unsuccessfully as a district councillor for Powick, near Worcester, in this month’s elections.

He is a “shadow governor” rather than a governor is because the trust has not yet been awarded foundation trust status by watchdog Monitor.

The 60-year-old was summoned to attend a special committee meeting at the Charles Hastings Education Centre at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Tuesday to face allegations of “misconduct” for speaking exclusively to your Worcester News about the plans which have since been dismissed by trust bosses as “just an idea”.

Mr Young said: “There was a presumption I was guilty. I feel like I have been treated like a criminal.

"I have actually led a rather bland life. I wasn’t given the opportunity to discuss the allegation in an adult and professional manner.”

Mr Young told colleagues he denied obtaining the information in his capacity as a shadow governor or as a member of the stroke strategy group and told the committee there was nothing on the document that indicated to him that it was “confidential”.

He said: “When asked to reveal the names of the whistle-blowers I refused as they have a right to be protected.”

Mr Young said he was told a recommendation would now be made to the full council of shadow governors who would decide on what action to take at a meeting on Monday, June 6.

Tosca Fairchild, trust secretary, who was present at the meeting, said: “There is a formal process to be followed which has not yet been completed.”