SIR - I would take Conservative Councillor Andrew Christian-Brookes' personal attack on me (June 26) more seriously if he actually knew what he was writing about. Unfortunately, he insists on displaying his ignorance in the local paper. If there is one group of people who have absolutely no right to speak out on NHS funding issues it is members of the Conservative Party like Councillor Christian-Brookes. In Parliament, they voted against the additional funding given to the NHS, claiming such spending levels were reckless. They voted against the increase in National Insurance used to fund the higher levels of NHS spending. Their leadership contender Liam Fox, as health spokesman, called for the breaking -up of the NHS monopoly and just last year the Conservatives stood on a platform of subsidising private health care and taking money away from the NHS. So Conservatives should keep very quiet or risk being seen as opportunists and hypocrites.

There are serious issues surrounding health care locally - matters which I take very seriously and require careful scrutiny. There are matters I discuss with health professionals privately not through the media.

And yes, the result of those meeting can be letters and meetings with health ministers, and no, I don't share these with Conservative MPs and councillors - why would I given their lack of support and commitment to public services generally in Worcestershire.

Conservatives can attack me all they like but given their track record on the NHS forgive me if I can't take them seriously. What matters to me is the treatment the NHS gives my constituents. With vastly improved waiting lists and waiting times, performance indicators showing an ever-improving NHS I remain committed to our local health service and will continue to work with the health professionals to ensure that health care continues to improve even through the difficult times we are now facing.

MIKE FOSTER,

MP for Worcester.