THE demise of Herefordshire Health Authority is imminent. By this time next year it could be out of business.

Up to 50 local jobs could be affected but efforts are being made to avoid redundancies.

Much of the work done by the authority will be taken on by Herefordshire Primary Care Trust which could mop up some of the posts.

The Government announced earlier this year it was to disband health authorities nation wide, replacing them with a much smaller number, each looking after the interests of at least one and a half million people.

It has already been announced that Herefordshire's future could lie in a link with Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Coventry and consultations will take place over the next 12 weeks.

Herefordshire Health Authority will discuss the proposal at a meeting at the Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford on September 25 to which the public is invited.

But Hereford MP Paul Keetch has joined with neighbouring MPs to complain about the mix, saying the new health authority should be Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire making it a West Mercia Health Authority.

MP colleagues, Matthew Green of Ludlow and Dr Richard Taylor of Wyre Forest, agree. "There is little common sense in linking Herefordshire with Coventry. However diligent the staff of the new authority will be there is a danger that Herefordshire will be forgotten,'' he said.

Mr Keetch also feared the 12 week consultation period would be gone before people were aware of its significance.

This the only option being put forward. A new mega health authority is unlikely to affect the day to day decisions and running of health services in Herefordshire, with the Primary Care Trust having the major role.