THE group responsible for buying health care for district folk is looking to further develop services at Kidderminster Hospital.

Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust, which commissions services for 110,000 people, hopes to increase surgery at the site and has vowed to review emergency care.

It has given a boost to Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor's mission to return more inpatient and emergency services to Kidderminster Hospital, which was downgraded in September 2000.

However, trust chief executive Peter Forrester stressed it was working within the wider health community and in conjunction with county hospital chiefs overseeing current health provision.

Speaking after a meeting with Dr Taylor and Wyre Forest District Council's cross-party health services task group, he said: "It was a very constructive meeting. We agree with Dr Taylor in that we are looking to further develop services for Wyre Forest.

"We are looking to develop more day and short-stay surgery and possibly developing step-down beds and more intermediate care beds.

"We are also working on how we handle emergency care."

He said the PCT had taken on board Dr Taylor's criticism of current health provision but it would work with the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to ensure an appropriate quality of services for patients.

And he revealed the PCT was keen to involve patients in a working group to plan future services.

Dr Taylor said he had been pleased by the PCT's response at the meeting.

He said: "At the end of the day they have the power to choose where they buy their services, so if they are not satisfied with current provision they can go elsewhere.

"What pleases me is that the PCT agrees it wants more services for local people and sees the need for more improvement.

"For us that can only mean the return of more inpatient surgery and emergency services to Kidderminster."

He added he would now be writing to health ministers to ensure they step back and let the PCT get on with its job.