THE son of a critically ill man who had to undergo a 17-mile transfer to another hospital in the wake of the decision to close Kidderminster Hospital's intensive care department has spoken of the "irony" of his father's ordeal.

Tony Page, 64, was moved to hospital in Worcester last Thursday before the town hospital's two ITU beds were closed the following day as a result of staff shortages.

And his angry son Andrew said it was ironic Mr Page, who is an ardent Save Kidderminster Hospital campaigner, "should be in the middle of a life-threatening ordeal".

Mr Page, of Cookley, was taken ill nearly three weeks ago and had to have an emergency op to remove a ruptured appendix.

Andrew said: "He has written letters and attended numerous rallies but he and the whole of our family never imagined it would be his own life under threat.

"My family may pursue this matter but our concern is being there for dad."

Mr Page is now in a "serious but stable" condition but his son said he had made a "slight improvement".

No one was available for comment at Worcestershire Health Authority.