ANGRY paramedics and GPs grilled a shadow Government minister on Worcester's A&E crisis - saying they are fed up with the problems at Worcestershire Royal.

Andy Burnham, Labour's shadow health secretary, made a visit to the city today to have sit-down talks with health professionals at Barbourne Health Centre.

During his trip he revealed his dismay about the NHS, saying the pressures on the royal "cannot continue", and also revealed a pledge to get 1,000 more nurses into training this year if it wins the General Election.

He also told your Worcester News the situation at the royal, which came to a head when a 'disaster doctor' was called in by the ambulance trust because all the beds were full earlier this month, has to stop.

"We've seen at the hospital in Worcester where staff are pulling out all the stops but are having real difficulties, they should not be put in this position," he said.

"This cannot carry on - we've got ambulance staff bringing in patients who are stuck in 'no man's land' because the A&E is so short.

"I think the hospital is operating beyond its limits, in my view and we need a new Government to sort it out."

He refused to offer any assurances on an upgrade of the royal's A&E though, saying he would "look at anything that could help" if the party got into power.

During his talks with medics Dr Charlie Harris, from the surgery, said the closure of Worcester's walk-in centre was "a terrible loss" while paramedic Stuart Gardner, from the West Midlands Ambulance Service, insisted staff were under "huge pressure".

"The corridor has basically become a ward," he said.

"We spend hours at A&E managing patients because they haven't got the beds, people are at risk because of it - the whole system is under pressure."

Another paramedic said "a majority" of those in the corridors go four or five hours without food or drink at the royal if they can't be found a bed.

Mr Burnham was accompanied by Councillor Joy Squires, Worcester's Labour parliamentary candidate, who lambasted the walk-in centre closure and said it left students in particular "going nowhere".

The shadow minister called it "a worrying situation" and told them he wanted more funds to go into social care to ensure people can stay at home, saying there has been a "massive" increase in the number of over-90s going to hospital since 2013.

After his visit Worcester Conservative Robin Walker blamed Labour for "allowing the royal to be built too small".

It was constructed in 2002 and is designed for 45,000 A&E patients a year, but is used by 75,000 annually.