THE conclusions drawn by Professor Allyson Pollock's report Deficit Before Patients make uncomfortable reading for those concerned with the future health of the county.

During the past two years, the campaign by Kidderminster protesters fighting to save the town's hospital has gathered strength.

Campaigners took their protests to Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament yesterday to mark the launch of the report.

Among the protesters were those with tales to tell of how loved ones had been saved because Kidderminster hospital was on the doorstep.

At the same time, the protesters cast doubt on how those same loved ones would have fared both during the interim period before the new hospital is open and, in the long term, once the hospital is fully operational.

Health Minister Alan Milburn declined to meet the campaigners and confined himself to a couple of prepared responses from the comfort of the Front Bench.

MP David Lock was not so fortunate and wasn't able to side-step the campaigners in the very heart of Westminster and once again found himself the target of their anger.

But, behind all the emotive tales, claims of MPs letting down their constituents and blurring of issues behind fancy rhetoric, the one fact which has emerged is that Professor Pollock's report has posed more questions than it has given answers.

Professor Pollock's report says that the health authority is hopelessly wrong in its plans for the 21st Cen tury while the health authority says that Professor Pollock's report is fatally flawed.

Whatever the truth of the situation, no one should be satisfied either way until the health authority is prepared to admit that it may be wrong and takes another - and very public look - at the county's health.

It is the very least we all deserve.