THE MP for Wyre Forest has set out the questions he says must be answered over the scrapping of services at a Kidderminster maternity unit.

Dr Richard Taylor said he hoped to be given a chance to take part in the investigation into six unexplained deaths at Wyre Forest Birth Centre, at Kidderminster Hospital.

Speaking after it was confirmed two babies died in August at the centre, Dr Taylor said the probe should focus on how the unit was affected by the downgrading of the hospital in September 2000.

The controversial cut in services - which spurred his victory as Health Concern MP - meant vital consultants such as gynaecologists and anaesthetists were no longer on hand to help out at the centre.

Only births expected to be trouble-free were allowed as expectant mums would have to be rushed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital if there was a problem.

But Dr Taylor said admissions criteria must now come under scrutiny.

In the meantime mothers-to-be will have to give birth at another hospital until the issue is sorted out.

Dr Taylor, a former consultant at Kidderminster, said: "Did the guidelines (for admission) change when the hospital was downgraded? We need to know if these guidelines were correct and if so, were they followed.

"If the inquiry finds the guidelines were correct then the results of the enquiry will point the blame, if there is any."

"Also, why was nothing done after the first untoward incident which we are told was in 2001?"

The independent inquiry will "determine if there had been inappropriate referral to the birth centre or if those (incidents) were unavoidable", according to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive John Rostill, announcing the investigation.

An "external independent reviewer" will be appointed by the West Midlands South Health Authority to carry out the investigation, the results of which are expected before the end of the year.

Spokeswoman for the SHA Jan Forrest said: "The health authority is working with the Department of Health in collaboration with the acute hospitals trust and the Primary Care Trust to determine the form of the review and the terms of reference.

"It is early days yet. The health authority does recognise the need for urgency but the process has to be right and the terms of reference have to be right. Once those are established the review will go ahead."