CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to fight on, despite the Prime Minister ruling out accident and emergency and inpatients returning to Kidderminster General Hospital.

In a letter to Wyre Forest District Council chairman John Gordon, Tony Blair said he was satisfied the county health shake-up arose from medical requirements and stressed it was backed by district doctors and physicians.

And he urged the authority, which has opposed the downgrading, to act responsibly and make the changes work.

"I am satisfied that the future model of services in Worcestershire has already been subject to rigorous assessment and that there was no medically viable plan put forward which could have retained A&E and inpatient medicine at Kidderminster," his letter said.

"I hope that the district council will play its part as a responsible authority in making these changes work to the benefit of local people rather than pretending it is possible to return to services which the local medical community could no longer support."

Mr Blair wrote after promising to look into the hospital downgrading after meeting flood victims in Bewdley who told him they were more concerned about the shake-up of health services in Worcestershire.

Coun Gordon, of Health Concern, said the authority was determined to carry on the fight to restore services on behalf of the thousands of people who had been campaigning.

He said the Prime Minister's letter had been sent on the same day as council representatives met Health Minister Yvette Cooper and gave her an alternative proposal for services in the county.

"The fight still goes on," he said.

"Once Ms Cooper has examined this alternative proposal we would like a meeting some time in the New Year."

Mr Gordon has also sent a reply to Tony Blair.

"The local community had hoped you would have played your part as a responsible Prime Minister in ensuring Wyre Forest and South Shropshire would have high quality, safe and accessible hospital services instead of, to use your word "pretending," the Government is listening to what we say about local hospital services," his letter said.

"You have always said that people should have the hospital they want, where they want and when they want. The community wants a full range of hospital services in Kidderminster and we want them now."