HORROR tales from patients suffering in the wake of the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital have swamped a hotline in its first week.

Stories of chaos abound from upset patients and angry families who have experienced traumatic treatment at Ronkswood Hospital.

Wyre Forest district councillor Elizabeth Davies, who set up the hotline, said there had been a host of calls with a variety of complaints.

Ironically complaints have flooded in at the same time as Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chairman Harold Musgrove wrote to Wyre Forest District Council stating procedures introduced under the county health shake-up had been "remarkably successful".

Mrs Davies said: "It has been a good response but a very sad one.

"Chaos is the word most often used to describe the situation in Worcester - particularly in the medical assessment ward.

"The complaints I have received have started at a minimum of 14 hours waiting on a trolley to one woman who had a 48-hour wait."

However, callers had been full of praise for doctors and nurses but stressed they were struggling to cope in such adverse conditions.

The farcical situation was summed up in the case of one woman who was moved to four wards within a week.

When she was moved from Ronkswood to Newtown hospital her family arrived at Ronkswood to be informed she had gone home.

It was only after 15 minutes of her relatives insisting she was still in hospital that the patient was located.

A more distressing complaint concerned a woman who was told it was 99 per cent certain she had a cancerous lump in her breast.

After having an x-ray in Redditch she had to use her own transport to drive to Ronkswood with the needle still in her breast. On arrival she was told to hurry up because they were waiting to operate.

Mrs Davies said: "What we feared is unfortunately coming true.

"I have spoken to a lot of angry families and upset patients.

"They may be suffering but at least this hotline gives them a chance to air their grievances and the reassurance that there are people who listen and can advise them."

All callers to the hotline are being sent forms to authenticate their cases.

The confidential service to collect facts from patients and nurses and give advice will complement Health Watch, which is gathering material for a longer-term report on how the hospital service is functioning.

The hotline number is 01299 401928.