FORMER Wyre Forest MP David Lock has put his devastating election defeat last year to a failure to "sell the message" on the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital.
The ex-minister, who was trounced at the polls by Independent Dr Richard Taylor a year ago this month, was speaking at the NHS Confederation conference in Harrogate.
He also took a less than respectful view of the media in the session which examined the county health shake-up.
Speaking on the importance of the local press, he said: "They are stupid, ignorant, a pain in the neck but crucial."
Former Worcestershire Health Authority chief executive Pat Archer-Jones, who masterminded the changes, said the authority could not be accused of poor communication or secrecy.
She said: "We were victims of open government."
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