NO one who has experienced winter as a hospital patient in Worcestershire, or witnessed the effects of a beds crisis, or tried to nurse through one, will need convincing that the Government's emergency aid package for the county is vital.

The fact that we're among those areas identified as being particularly exposed to fresh difficulties is, in an odd way, reassuring.

Because, in the absence of a localised epidemic being responsible for the problems of recent winters, it's reasonable to assume that the crisis cash is a tacit admission that our health service hasn't been equal to the task, and remains that way.

Details of the discussions between Health Minister Yvette Cooper and our county Labour MPs were still under wraps as we went to press.

But, if they come home with the cash - with a General Election beckoning - it's vital that they use their success as a springboard for a return journey which will revive hospital services in spring, summer and autumn as well.

While the £28m funding increase handed to Worcestershire Health Authority will largely be swallowed by much-needed wage rises and higher drugs costs, the factor which continues to have the strongest impact on people's lives is the number of beds available generally.

The extra beds hoped for as a result of today's talks - up to 56 for intermediate care, in addition to 56 winter pressure beds - must be permanent.

We say that because we're still of the view that the upheaval in county health services has left Worcestershire perilously under-equipped in overall bed numbers.

We still fear that the coming weeks will prove WHA's Investing in Excellence strategy to be flawed.

Add the cross-country travel which people are having to make to find specialist treatment, and it's not hard to see that a significant number of careers are vulnerable to the maths of supply and demand.

How many more incentives do our movers and shakers need to effect a change before any more time is wasted?