Surgery could be expanded at Kidderminster General Hospital if Labour is re-elected, it was revealed today.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has contacted the Labour candidate for Wyre Forest, David Lock, pledging a review by the end of July assuming the Government was re-elected.

"It would be headed by an independent senior medical figure," Mr Lock said today, having received the Health Secretary's letter late yesterday afternoon.

"There's been talk of the president of the Royal College of Surgeons being appointed, but that wasn't in Mr Milburn's letter."

The review would study a possible extension to in-patient elective surgery at Kidderminster.

Seriously

"This would relieve pressure on acute beds at Worcester and Redditch," said Mr Lock.

"It's seriously good news."

Mr Lock denied that he had "done a U-turn" over hospital services, saying he had been working behind the scenes for months to boost services at Kidderminster.

Dr Richard Taylor, the Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern candidate, was unavailable for comment as the Evening News went to press.

Mark Simpson, the Conservative candidate, described the move as "deeply cynical".

"This is only a review of elective surgery," he said.

"That's pretty much what we've got at Kidderminster at the moment. We're offering a comprehensive review, including a study of A&E services."