IN the latest indictment of the county health shake-up a flying doctor had to hold a man's nearly severed leg for half-an-hour on Sunday before an ambulance crew took over.

Barrie Davies is fearful about the state of the ambulance service after the life-and-death drama in Cookley.

And he has reiterated someone will die due to delays as more people are ferried to Worcester from Wyre Forest because of the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital.

The Wyre Forest flying doctor was aghast to find only a single-manned ambulance at the scene of the crash.

He and the paramedic had to tend to a motorcyclist trapped in a hedge before an ambulance crew was diverted from Evesham - the nearest crew available.

Dr Davies said: "This was a life-and-death situation and we had this delay. Sooner or later someone is going to die - this is another warning.

"The man's leg was nearly ripped off with only two of us at the scene we could not get him on his side.

"I was busy pumping pain killers into him while the ambulance man pumped fluid. It was only when the ambulance crew arrived that they were able to put on a splint."

The man arrived at Selly Oak Hospital, instead of going to the downgraded Kidderminster Hospital, two hours after the accident.

Dr Davies said: "It is not the ambulance service's fault but it cannot cope.

"This is supposedly a relatively quiet time yet there was not a crew available in the area."

The motorcyclist, who has not been named by police, was riding a 750cc Suzuki bike in the collision with a Citroen BX car.

A police spokesman said the accident happened as the motorbike was travelling away from Kidderminster and the Citroen headed towards the town.