I HAVE received a letter from David Lock MP, telling me what an advantage it is to have Kidderminster Hospital downgraded and we should all accept that we are better served by having to make a 40-mile round trip to receive treatment and it is too late to change.

He and his Government are totally missing the fundamental flaw in all their arguments.

Tony Blair stated that medical facilities would, and should, be available where and when they were wanted by all the people, and not just for a few, and what we want is our hospital and all services back where they were locally.

It is now abundantly clear that Kidderminster was sacrificed to finance the Government's PFI scheme of a new hospital at Worcester.

The fallacy of their argument that there is no going back, is that the Government can afford to provide a service at Kidderminster that the electorate of the area require. They have the funds from our taxes and the power of Parliament to do whatever they wish.

Instead of listening to so-called professionals, with vested interests, both Mr Lock and I were elected to listen to and represent those who voted for us, and not some Government department telling us what the people want. People should come before politics.

A great mistake has been made to the detriment of the people he and I represent, and the sooner that mistake is accepted and steps taken to rectify the situation, the happier and safer we will all feel.

All the medical issues that have been enumerated by David Lock can be easily overcome if the Health Secretary, Alan Milburn, so decreed.

The entrenched ideology that nothing can be done can be overturned if the will of Government is prepared to meet the requirements and needs of those who put them there.

PETER CARTER

Liberal Democrat

Chairman

Worcestershire County Council

Sutton Park Road, Kidderminster