PATIENTS are suffering totally unacceptable treatment at Worcestershire's new hospital, it has been claimed.

Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor has broken his silence on a catalogue of complaints from constituents after health chiefs failed to answer his concerns.

Now he has called on Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust chief Michael O'Riordan to get his act together, sort out the mess and return services to Kidderminster Hospital.

The trust has largely denied the claims, although it has admitted to teething problems.

The MP, who was elected in protest at the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital to make way for the £95 million Worcestershire Royal Hospital, said: "This is totally unacceptable. Patients and their families are suffering.

"I am amazed by the apparently laid-back reaction of the acute trust to what is going on.

"And I am desperately disappointed the air of intimidation against staff still exists. Staff members are not willing to be quoted by name."

Among complaints he has received are:

The infirmary closed to emergency admissions on Sunday, April 14. Trust response: It took some emergency admissions but others were taken to the Alexandra at Redditch.

A minibus full of patients arriving to an unmanned reception. After waiting two-and-a-half hours they went home having missed their appointments. Trust response: It has received no complaint and has no record of this.

Failing bus and telemedicine services. Trust response: It has no record of failing bus services but admits "glitches" with telemedicine with the link sometimes failing. This is being addressed.

Staff quitting at the rate of five per week. Trust response: Fifteen domestic staff quit in the first month but this is normal in any hospital move. No exodus of clinical staff.

Management teams from other areas trying to sort out problems. Trust response: Untrue.

Dr Taylor also highlighted teething problems since the hospital opened last month.

These include:

Builders demolishing a wall in a ward full of patients. Trust response: Untrue.

Corridors too narrow for beds to pass each other. Trust response: irrelevant as the hospital has a one-way system.

Water supplies not working and no electricity in kitchens when the hospital opened. Trust response: Untrue.

The cost effective small bore drainage system unable to cope with demand. Surface drainage areas slope the wrong way. Trust response: Untrue.

Dr Taylor has called on Mr O'Riordan to admit the county's problems are insoluble without re-opening some services at Kidderminster Hospital.

The trust chairman is currently on leave.

However, director of communications Richard Haynes said Mr O'Riordan would answer Dr Taylor's points in detail on his return.

Mr Haynes denied intimidation of staff and pointed out there were weekly meetings between staff and management where views could be aired.

He said: "There have been a few teething problems such as car parking and telemedicine. However, we moved services en-masse so the problems have come at once rather than being spread out over weeks.

"If patients have concerns we will look into them and try to address the situation. We are trying our best to make this new hospital work as best it can."