Last year Secretary of State Alan Millburn announced a £65 million boost to attract and keep nurses, midwives, health visitors and related professionals in the NHS. But it has now been revealed that out of 99 health authorities, only 31 will benefit and that excludes North and South Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton, and Worcestershire.

"With hospital closures and threats to units such as the Maternity Unit in Lichfield, it is no surprise that morale in the NHS is at an all time low", says Michael Fabricant.

"Instead of trumpeting new initiatives which then turn out to be a major disappointment, Mr Millburn should concentrate his efforts on keeping hospital facilities open in the West Midlands.

"I am acutely aware of the problems Premier Health are having in attracting staff to the Victoria Hospital in Lichfield and this will not be helped by lack of funds and the continuing threat to jobs in our City. House prices in Lichfield and the surrounding villages are soaring and it is an insult that none of this money, supposedly available to supplement the cost of living, has been allocated to our area."