DR Taylor has spoken out against the sinister background to the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital in his maiden House of Commons speech.

He highlighted the "punitive and unfair" downgrading of the award-winning hospital amid a backdrop of farcical consultation and gagging of medics.

He said: "This is sinister. Following local doctors' initial documented and unanimous disagreement with the health authority, they have been effectively silenced.

"Three consultants have bravely spoken in public about disasters and disadvantages and have been censured by managers and politicians.

"Thus, doctors who opposed the downgrading have been effectively gagged and it was possible to promote the myth that local medical opinion was in favour of the changes."

About the consultation he said: "The option appraisal was dressed up in pseudo-statistical clothes, but was, in reality, just a vote.

"The application for judicial review asked a simple question, 'is it lawful to consult on one preferred option only?' The answer, of course, was yes, so the quality of consultation was not revealed, only the quantity."

He also emphasised the "myth" the downgrading was due to Royal College guidelines. He pointed out the same guidelines had been interpreted differently and saved other hospitals across the country.

He said: "My constituents will not rest until it has been made possible to ensure the provision of emergency services locally.

"The newest ward block opened in 1995 at a cost of £14 million. It is about to be gutted at a cost of £13.7 million to provide one-stop clinics, which have been in place in existing buildings for 10 years."

Finally, he vowed to campaign to protect the original ideals of the NHS and fight against increasing privatisation.

He said: "Given my long experience as a doctor, a patient, a manager and, previously, a health authority member, my dream is to represent the patients' voice which is so weak at present."