WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Harriett Baldwin has backed calls from GPs asking for better use of local community hospitals.

There are three highly-valued community hospitals in Mrs Baldwin's constituency and people living in the area are keen to make sure they are used to offer more services closer to home.

The MP welcomed a statement by the South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group supporting more services being delivered through community hospitals.

She said: "I welcome this intervention by the CCG who represent the GPs who now play a vital role as ‘personal shoppers’ to secure the best care for their patients.

"The NHS locally is investing in an important new radiotherapy unit in Worcester, expanding maternity services and working hard to reduce the pressures on Accident and Emergency departments.

"I have three very valuable community hospitals in my constituency and all the feedback passed on to me suggests that local people want them used more.

"This will mean that patients are getting treatment much closer to home making it more convenient and also reducing the pressure on the county’s transport network and on Accident and Emergency departments.

"Tenbury, Pershore and Malvern Community Hospitals play a vital role in their local community and I will continue to press for more services to be delivered through each of these locations.

"I have always spoken up for these important local resources and I think the health economy chiefs must find ways to work together to use each of these hospitals more, not less."