IF ever there was a need for an MP with expert knowledge of the health industry, it was last year. The NHS has had a rough ride over the past 12 months, both locally and at a national level.

• The under-funding of the service over many years was acknowledged by politicians and felt by patients.
• Staff morale was hit by the need to meet tough targets, with ambulance workers and nurses in particular complaining about unrealistic workloads.
• In Worcestershire, the repercussions of Kidderminster Hospital's downgrading continued to be felt and Worcester's new hospital was heavily criticised.

Dr Taylor complains that he is regarded as a "one issue MP", but if there is one issue that currently needs concentrating on, it is health. He is now fighting for improvements in the NHS as a whole, but the future of the downgraded Kidderminster Hospital is still the issue closest to his heart. The independent MP has campaigned relentlessly to get services returned to the hospital, and his persistence is starting to pay off.

Only a few weeks ago, Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust unveiled plans for 30 more beds and two new theatres for orthopaedic work, such as hip and knee operations, at the hospital. A state-of-the-art rehabilitation and recovery centre could also be on the cards.
Dr Taylor, who is clearly still angry about the way the hospital was treated, describes the development of the orthopaedic centre as "brilliant news".

However, this concession has done little to appease him. He has always called for emergency services to be re-instated, and nothing has changed.
He intends to keep pressing for an emergency assessment centre at Kidderminster to take the pressure off Worcester and Redditch hospitals, and is optimistic that some emergency facilities could return to the site.

"The Royal College of Physicians has agreed that you can have emergency medicine without emergency surgery," he said.

"It's a major breakthrough. The reason we lost virtually everything at Kidderminster was because we were told that you can't have medicine without surgery.

"This is a change of heart."

The retired consultant points to the fact that the majority of emergencies require medical rather than surgical treatment.

"We've never said we could take severe injuries like head injuries and chest injuries. They can be taken in Worcester.

"If people are treated at Kidderminster and don't need admitting, it's much easier for them to get home.

"If you're taken to a hospital 20 miles away, it's more difficult, and you could end up staying in hospital for a night or more."

One of his highlights of the year as far as health is concerned was the abolition of the health authority and the establishment of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).

"It was the health authority that damaged the health service in Worcestershire almost beyond resolve," he said.

"It got it enormously wrong. This devolution to PCTs is vital. They have realised how bad things are in this county, and at least you are seeing the proposals to make things better."

As well as putting forward the case for Kidderminster Hospital, Dr Taylor has become a highly influential member of the Government's Health Select Committee. He has taken part in investigations into issues such as the role of the private sector in the NHS and the problem of delayed discharges. As one would expect from a man who was stirred into action after seeing the people of Kidderminster and beyond let down by the powers that be, Dr Taylor has been calling for the public to have a greater say in the running of the NHS.

"I want to raise awareness of the need for the Government to take on board the views of ordinary people - not just patients, but carers and people who have not been patients.

"There's a lot of talk about how to involve and educate the public so they can be real partners in a consultation process.

"The NHS has always been run by professionals and politicians, without any input from Joe Bloggs.

"The NHS belongs to Joe Bloggs and he should have a say in what it's doing and how it's run."

But, while Dr Taylor has fought for a fairer deal for the people of Worcestershire and has already had some success, he warns that the NHS will take years to nurse back to full health.

"Although the Government is pouring extra money into the NHS, I've asked it to be more up front about what the money means," he said.

"People expect to see improvement, but there has been such a deficit from 20 years of under-funding that the first few years will just go into catching up.

"Take the example of our county - the PCTs are almost £10 in debt.

"Will this new money really go towards new equipment, or will it be swallowed up in debt?

"We've put this money in, but now we must be patient."

This year, the consultant turned politician will continue to fight for more health facilities for his home town, whatever the financial situation may be. But his passion for health issues does not mean he will be ignoring other issues.

"It's utterly impossible to be a single issue MP because there are so many things to do.

"I will continue to promote Wyre Forest as a place to live and work, because it has such a lot to offer."

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