THE accident and emergency unit at the new Worcestershire Royal Hospital was closed for two hours to patients from Wyre Forest last week.

People needing medical treatment were diverted to Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, because the unit at Worcester was unable to cope.

Wyre Forest Health Concern MP Dr Richard Taylor said: "I'm horrified that a major hospital that has been flagged up as the best thing since sliced bread cannot cope with emergency cases.

"We've been saying for so long that accident and emergency facilities are inadequate without services in Kidderminster. It is my recollection that the occasions when Kidderminster Hospital closed were extremely few."

A spokeswoman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "There was a period on Wednesday afternoon when patients were taken to Redditch. It was a busy afternoon.

"It happens from time to time. It has happened before and may happen again. We are fortunate that we are able to do this having two major accident and emergency units."

She said patients were taken straight to Redditch, rather than arrive at Worcester and then be diverted.