HEALTH chiefs have decided to plough on with proposed changes to care services at the Alexandra Hospital.
In a statement the Future of Acute Hospital Services in Worcestershire Programme Board said that all members had confirmed their commitment to the ongoing development of the clinical model for Worcestershire produced last year known as modified option one.
This is despite the West Midlands Clinical Senate raising concerns over its viability and doctors across the county questioning its sustainability and clinical safety and appealing for the list of health providers to be broadened to beyond just Worcester.
It’s also a rejection of overtures from University Hospitals Birmingham which offered to help.
Neal Stote, chairman of the Save the Alex Campaign said: “I am dumbfounded, disappointed and frustrated. Despite the county-wide opinion of doctors who say they need to look at other options the programme board has decided to push on.”
What this means for the people of Redditch, Bromsgrove, Studley, Alcester and the surroundings areas is this:
Emergency surgery, consultant-led maternity services and over-night paediatric care will transfer from the Alex to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
The board also agreed to set up an urgent care task and finish group to deal with top level criticisms of changes to the emergency service.
The work will be undertaken over the summer to ensure there is a detailed version of the model which can be put to the West Midlands Clinical Senate.
The aim is then to put the option out for public consultation later this year.
Mr Stote said: “They’ve had 12 months to sort out this proposal and four years overall and to think they can carry out a few tweaks over the summer to get it right is simply unbelievable.”
