PLANS have been drawn up to expand specialist youth services at Kidderminster Hospital after cramped conditions led to the resignation of a social worker.

The child and adolescent mental health services unit helps trauma-hit youngsters deal with a range of problems, including abuse and bullying, eating disorders and hyper-activity.

It deals with about 90 children a month and in a report clinical director for specialist children's services, Dr Andrew Mills, said staff had struggled for some time to manage in their four rooms.

He said this had led to the resignation of a social worker and contributed to difficulties in appointing a consultant psychiatrist.

Dr Mills said work was in hand to rectify the staffing problems and a bid for additional funds to expand the unit within the hospital had been made to the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority.