THE three-year evaluation was compiled by a Birmingham University team of experts, led by Professor James Raftery at the university's Health Services Management Centre.
It monitored the effects of Kidderminster Hospital's downgrading - referred to in the study as reconfiguration - by using two main measures as yardsticks. They were use of acute hospital services and mortality rates.
Deaths while in hospital showed changes, year on year. Although statistics for Wyre Forest residents reflected falls in 2001 and 2002, compared to before 2000, they rose again in 2003.
The report acknowledged that was a fairly crude measure, since relatively few hospital admissions ended in death. It did, suggest, however, that, at the very least, deaths in hospital for residents of Wyre Forest did not become more common following the changes.
A review of a wide range of other measures of health showed little variation that could be linked to the downgrading.
The Community Healthcare Audit and Research Trust - CHART - which began as Health Watch was formed as a result of concerns about the future of health services in area covered by the former Kidderminster General Hospital.
It commissioned the Birmingham University study, which also included several surveys of all doctors in Worcestershire. Overall, they were highly critical of how the NHS had consulted people on the changes.
Most doctors considered that the quality of inpatient services had deteriorated.
Professor Raftery said: "Credit should be given to CHART for having funded an independent assessment of the changes - something the NHS had failed to do.
"The publicity drawn to the changes by Health Concern and CHART may have contributed to the NHS maintaining previous levels of service."
Worcestershire Health Authority and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust both initially refused to be involved with the study, although the hospital trust's stance softened once it was under way.
The health authority cited its disagreement with the research methods as its reason for non-participation.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article