ACCIDENT and emergency Departments have come under the spotlight following the National Audit Office report on long waiting times.

Minister Alan Milburn's response to the damning report was that the problem is primarily one of organisation and management, not due to lack of resources and staff.

Does he not recollect that the "excuse" given for closing Kidderminster's A&E was the supposed lack of consultant doctors in Worcestershire?

I recall Worcestershire Health Authority held the view that A&E departments should be managed by specialist consultants who were on duty "around the clock" and that this could not be accomplished in all three A&E departments in Worcestershire i.e. at Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester.

The Health Authority proposed the downgrading of Redditch as well as Kidderminster. Why then has Kidderminster been downgraded while Redditch remains unscathed? There are not enough A&E consultants to cover services around the clock in both Worcester and Redditch.

If Redditch (and probably Worcester) continues to operate with lower-graded doctors at less busy times, then so could Kidderminster.

This is how a large proportion of A&E departments operate throughout the country. Otherwise, probably at least 30 per cent would have to close.

Professor Brian McCloskey, as Director of Public Health of Worcestershire Health Authority, should be asked to explain why Kidderminster A&E was downgraded while Redditch has remained fully functional.

Perhaps he needs to be reminded that on page 19 of Investing in Excellence, the Health Authority's Consultation Document, it states there should be only one Consultant-led A&E department in Worcestershire.

If Redditch can safely maintain a full A&E Department without "round the clock" Consultant cover, then so can Kidderminster.

This also happens to be in line with the response given by Worcestershire A&E Consultants to the Health Authority's document Investing in Excellence during the original consultation process three years ago.

Re-opening Kidderminster A&E would take pressure off Worcester to the benefit of people in both parts of the county.

DEREK ROBERTS, (retired) Deputy Chief Executive,

Director of Finance of the former Kidderminster

Health Care NHS Trust.