VALE MP Peter Luff has sent a petition bearing more than 1,000 signatures of Worcestershire residents to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The move follows a decision last week by health secretary Patricia Hewitt to refuse an offer by Mr Luff to visit Worcestershire hospitals.

Mr Luff had written to Mrs Hewitt several weeks ago, but in a brief telephone call from her office last week was informed she would not be coming to the county.

The petition sent to Mr Blair was organised by the Royal College of Nursing and expresses concern about the impact of cuts and redundancies in the local health service.

"These damaging measures are being imposed by local health trusts in a desperate attempt to meet government targets," said Mr Luff.

"I agree entirely with the Royal College of Nursing. Local deficits are impossibly huge, but this does not mean that staff and patients should be made to suffer.

"I have written to Tony Blair in the hope that he will stop the short-term fixes that are imposing such devastating cuts in hospital and community health budgets.

"The government seems to be turning a blind eye to the desperate state of the NHS in Worcestershire.

"Even the secretary of state for health, Patricia Hewitt, has refused to visit us.

"I hope the prime minister will at least reply in person to this petition.

"If Patricia Hewitt will not listen to the nurses and the people of Worcestershire, I only hope the prime minister will."