The Trust’s rating of inadequate is overall the same as before. Whilst improvements in some areas have been made, and maternity services are rated good, it’s more a reflection of the excellent staff doing their best under difficult circumstances, rather than any perceived material change in the effectiveness of the management to manage. That the caring of staff itself has been rated as good in the Report confirms this fact but let’s not lose sight of the fact some services are not safe.

So, let’s be clear, any management would struggle given the challenge they face thanks to Tory Government NHS cuts, not to mention their refusal to give work visas to much needed doctors to work here.

Our local Tory MPs are quick to take the credit for good news but predictably go into hiding when the situation is more damaging for them. Your local Tory MPs have voted for NHS cuts, are content to see it privatised, and have supported a hostile immigration environment. All have consequences and that is being played out now in Worcestershire Acute NHS.

We have a Tory Health Secretary in Jeremy Hunt who has written a booklet on defunding and privatising the NHS, so no one should be surprised that is what’s actually happening now.

Waiting lists are an issue, as is capacity in A&E, so it’s obvious Ms McKay will cling to any lifeboat of good news, and does. Frankly, it’s not a good enough response to be pleased about maternity services when there is a shambles going on around her. Let’s not forget, this has been going on for a long time now.

The extra £8million she refers to might help in the Winter, but in case it’s escaped her attention, the NHS is in a year long crisis. Worcestershire Acute is short of £60million overall had it kept pace with Labour funding and the deficit as if by coincidence is around £60million.

Just this last weekend the same problems of capacity in A&E surfaced again. Things won’t change until we have a Labour Government who will give the NHS the funding that it, our communities, and people deserve. And on the 70th anniversary of the NHS, that moment can’t come soon enough if we are to save our NHS from Tory dogma that is killing the NHS in a thousand cuts inflicted on a daily basis.”