COUNCIL leaders in Redditch, Bromsgrove and Stratford have written to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health Dr Dan Poulter over the on-going issues with regard to the health economy in Worcestershire.

The move comes after it was revealed that University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) is refusing to accept referrals from GPs outside of its own catchment area for patients requiring general surgery, pain management, general dermatology, urology and from the middle of October for ear, nose and throat operations.

It has emerged that due to problems with demand UHB, which runs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, is refusing to accept referrals for a three month period.

This has already resulted in 173 referrals being rejected, with 32 coming from the Redditch and Bromsgrove area.

In a joint statement the leaders say they understand that Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG has appealed to NHS England and the regulator Monitor as well as UHB asking them to reverse the decision.

They urged Dr Poulter to personally intervene and instruct UHB to do this.

In the letter to the minister they said: "We know that you feel that service provision is a matter for local NHS however this together with the on-going situation with regard to the Acute Services Review (which we don't believe will be resolved before the next general election) means that the situation for the people whom we serve is getting worse and worse.

"We believe that Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG is trying to commission the very best services that are needed by the people of our areas but are having their hands tied behind their backs - surely now is a time for you to get personally involved?"

The leaders, Bill Hartnett, Margaret Sherry and Chris Saint, have also written to local commissioners and chairman of UHB, former Redditch MP Jacqui Smith, urging her to reverse the decision as soon as possible as they say patients are suffering.