A CONTROVERSIAL new £95 million hospital in Worcester - which has meant services being lost at Kidderminster - opened its doors for the first time at the weekend.

A military-style operation saw 231 patients transferred from the city's ageing Ronkswood site to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

It has been built under the Private Finance Initiative, a "mortgage" system which involves the Government repaying a private partner over many years.

It has survived a rise in costs of £25 million, criticisms over a reduced number of beds and fears of job losses.

The county health shake-up saw Kidderminster Hospital downgraded to help meet the cost of the new hospital, with the loss of blue light accident and emergency and inpatient services.

This sparked the Health Concern movement which saw retired consultant Dr Richard Taylor score a stunning election victory over sitting Labour MP David Lock last summer with a 17,630 majority.

But the arrival of the Worcestershire Royal has been joyously welcomed in Worcester, where residents have been campaigning for a new, modern hospital for half a century.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was the twelfth of 68 new hospitals planned by his Government.

He went on to describe it as a "shining example of why I believe, despite the real problems still to overcome, that the NHS is well on the road to recovery".

The new A&E department, which will be the destination for Wyre Forest patients, opened at 7am on Saturday.

A fleet of 15 ambulances then ferried patients individually the half-mile from Ronkswood, accompanied by nurse escorts.

It is thought to be the first time in the UK so many people have been moved to a new hospital over a short space of time.

Project manager for the move Rachel Overfield said the changeover had gone "like clockwork".

"This whole project couldn't have been achieved without close teamwork with our PFI partners Catalyst, Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service and the army of volunteers who helped on the move days," she added.

"Everyone played their part professionally and with enthusiasm."

The new out-patients department opens in the hospital on Tuesday, April 2.

Catalyst will provide non-clinical services including maintenance, catering, cleaning, portering and security at the Charles Hastings Way site.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chairman Michael O'Riordan said the move marked a "momentous day" in the history of county healthcare.