THE "truth" on the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital was due to be exposed in Parliament last night.

Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor secured a 30-minute House of Commons debate on the county health shake-up, which saw the hospital lose its blue light A&E and inpatient services.

The former Kidderminster Hospital consultant was scheduled to take the floor for 15 minutes before going head-to-head with a health minister.

Dr Taylor, who was elected with a 17,630 majority earlier this year against the hospital downgrading and Government spin and unfairness, was delighted to land the debate so early in his parliamentary career.

But he would not reveal the tone of his speech, which would have the backing of parliamentary privilege.

He said: "I have not yet decided exactly what I will say. However, this will give me the forum to set the record straight and raise further awareness about the unfairness of our situation and show how we have been unfavourably treated compared to other areas.

"It will also give me an opportunity to answer all the stock-in-trade answers that will have been prepared for the minister by the health authority in advance."

Dr Taylor's adjournment debate titled "on the fate of Kidderminster General Hospital" was due to follow a meeting of the Health Select Committee.

He is likely to face John Hutton, whom he met at Kidderminster Hospital at the announcement of the Darzi report - which brought some beds and inpatient services back to the site - last month. Dr Taylor then outlined horror reports including a patient who had to lie next to a corpse for 24 hours at Worcester Royal Infirmary.