A FORMER MP is determined to make sure a review of NHS services does not repeat the mistakes of the past and that the people of Worcestershire have a voice.

Retired hospital consultant Dr Richard Taylor, who was the MP for Wyre Forest between 2001 and 2010, has been invited to join a board of experts which will make sure a savings review of hospital services is fair and that patients are listened to.

Pressure on services continues to grow, causing a gap between demand and available cash which will open to £20 billion nationally by 2014/15.

In Worcestershire, health bosses launched a joint services review (JSA) at Sixways stadium, Worcester, on Friday as leaders work out how best to manage the shortfall in Worcestershire which is set to rise to between £150 and £200 million by 2015/16.

Dr Taylor has been invited to join the stakeholders reference board, chaired by Professor Rod Griffiths.

Its aim is to ensure people have a voice during the consultation and NHS leaders honour their promise to listen to the public before tough decisions are taken.

Dr Taylor, who fought to save Kidderminster Hospital from being downgraded, said: “The aim of this board is to make sure that the joint services review really will give sufficient voice to everyone and I’m very pleased to go on it because, looking back to the consultation over Kidderminster Hospital so long ago, I know exactly how you don’t do a consultation. I want to make sure this consultation is open and fair and really listens to what people say and takes notice.”

Dr Taylor said he was mindful of the words of Hazel Blears, the Labour health minister back in 2001, who said the culture of the NHS needed to change so that the views of patients and citizens are not only valued, but listened to and acted upon as well.

Dr Taylor was asked whether he was concerned about the future of Kidderminster Hospital in light of the fact that NHS bosses have said there is no blueprint for the future of NHS services until the results of the review are announced in November.

“I think it is so obvious that Kidderminster is needed and should be used a great deal more for elective care and to take the pressure off Worcestershire Royal Hospital, that I don’t think there’s any threat to Kidderminster,” he said.