Doctors have rejected Worcestershire health authority plans to re-organise hospital services in the face of an pounds18m deficit.

At an extraordinary meeting, the British Medical Association's Worcestershire division decided it could not support six options for the future of medical services in the county.

Members expressed concern that the proposals, which centre on the development of a pounds91m private finance initiative replacement for Worcester Royal Infirmary, could leave neighbouring hospitals without adequate surgical cover to cope with emergency admissions.

Chair Anthony Cole said it was also concerned that the planned 390-bed replacement for Worcester Royal Infirmary would not be large enough to cope with demand. But he said doctors were prepared to develop ways of working across a number of sites, which would be facilitated by trust mergers.

'We had a constructive meeting. All we need now is for the HA to come back with some workable proposals,' he said.