WYRE Forest MP Mark Garnier has come under fire for blaming poor management for the current crisis engulfing Worcester Royal Hospital.

Members of Wyre Forest Labour Group said issues at the Royal had arisen because Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust had been “starved” of Government funding.

In his weekly column in the Shuttle last week, Wyre Forest’s Conservative MP said problems at the hospital – including the death of two patients awaiting treatment in A&E – arose as a result of long term under performance and management issues.

He added that interim new management had been put in place and that more funding would be provided to support both Worcester and Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital.

But Stephen Brown, of Wyre Forest Labour Party, said the Government’s under-funding of the NHS and Mr Garnier’s support for that has caused the crisis.

He said: “Mark Garnier tries to convince us that the problems with our A&E in Worcester are all down to poor management.

“Well he would say that wouldn't he, because it lets him and his Tory MP colleagues off the hook.

“Collectively, they have starved the NHS of funds, privatised parts of it, and denied councils enough social care money, so adding to the huge demands on our NHS.

“It's a wonder our excellent doctors and nurses can cope at all against this background of Government disrespect.

“This is a crisis designed at Tory HQ and made in Downing Street. It's not good enough that he's finally woken up to it, but only half-heartedly it seems when he says this is a matter for the 'local MP' in Worcester.

“Maybe he's not realised that the whole county relies on A&E at Worcester Royal, so he needs to get on his bike and do more to look after the Health interests of his constituents. Otherwise, he'll be in for a shock come the next election.”

Mr Garnier said: “The problems within the NHS are not consistently across the whole of the NHS. Some hospitals are doing fine and some are worse than most.

“The Royal is worse than most so the reason has to be attributed to something other than funding.

“Given the lamentable performance of management at the Acute Trust over the last five years with regard the plans to reshape acute services in the county, there has clearly been a huge problem.

“We are increasing funding for the NHS. Many people have written to me saying add one per cent on income tax to fund the NHS.

“The amount we are paying extra is, I believe, the equivalent to an extra three per cent on income tax so we are stepping up to the mark more than we are being asked to by the public.”