THE health service in Worcestershire is to get a £26.4 million cash boost next year.

Wyre Forest MP David Lock welcomed the news but stressed the money must be used to benefit the whole county in a fair way.

Mr Lock made his comments after Health Secretary Alan Milburn released the figures indicating the NHS would get an eight per cent rise in funds next year, on top of the nine per cent rise this year.

However, the MP is seeking assurances about equal access to services for local residents after waiting list figures released last week showed Wyre Forest patient waiting times have risen far faster than other parts of the county.

Mr Lock said: "This is good news for the local NHS. Extra money will allow more patients to be treated, more operations to be carried out and more nurses and doctors can be employed.

"The priority must be to invest more in community services in the Wyre Forest area. We need more nursing home places, district nurses, more support services, more speech therapy and all the other community services that underpin the acute services.

He added: "However, the NHS will only work if the complex web of professional relationships between GPs, consultants and health managers works well.

"The waiting list figures and all my contact with those working in the local NHS show that these relationships are not working at present.

"The Government will invest extra resources but there are duties on the professionals and especially on health managers to use the money more effectively to deliver better services to local people.

"I know that the Wyre Forest GPs are committed to this, but their commitment must be shared by the rest of the NHS in the county."