THE consultation on the merger of primary care trusts concluded yesterday.

I have opposed the merger into one county trust and concluded my response with this sentence, "The Government is trying to run a patient-led NHS so this is exactly the time when they should be listening to the patient voice and I just hope that the Strategic Health Authority will pass this patient voice through to the Department of Health."

I visited St John's CE First School to help them celebrate Ofsted's Most Outstanding Schools Award and the award of International School Status.

I understand this is the only school in the county with this Ofsted award which is a great tribute to staff, children and parents.

I enjoyed presenting individual and class awards at assembly and was inspired by the optimism, enthusiasm and eagerness to excel on the faces of the children.

I called on Network (Worcestershire), the electrical appliance re-use centre on the Firs Industrial Estate to make sure I had the facts at my fingertips for my visit to the Minister of State in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on March 20.

Then I visited Headway House for their celebration of Brain Injury Awareness Week. I was impressed with their facilities in Stourport including the large garden designed and maintained by many of their clients and supporters. This must be a real joy to those who have always had their own garden but due to their disability cannot manage one alone but can now see the results of their ideas and work here.

Last Sunday my wife and I walked around Bewdley to look at Severnside South and the deployment of the pallet flood defences on the Wribbenhall side of the river.

We only caught the end of this demonstration but learnt enough to know that we can be confident that this effective flood protection can be erected in the time available after a flood warning.

Returning to London, I met Malcolm Wicks, the minister in the DTI, to explain to him the problems for our electrical equipment re-use centre from the Government's delay in implementing the producer obligations in the European Directive on Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment.

This organisation is already saving tonnes of repairable equipment from landfill and making available guaranteed household equipment at a fraction of normal retail prices. It will be a disaster for the Government's aims on disposal of hazardous waste to lose this.

I made sure the minister is aware of the value of this county-wide service and of the urgency of implementation of this directive.

In a debate on NHS deficits I told the Government just where the extra money has gone and why deficits still exist

Instead of allowing time for trusts to achieve balance, the Government ignores the facts and imposes irrational knee- jerk responses without considering the consequences.