Redditch doctors hit back at hospital figures produced by Birmingham trust UHB - The Redditch Standard

Redditch doctors hit back at hospital figures produced by Birmingham trust UHB

Redditch Editorial 27th Sep, 2016 Updated: 18th Oct, 2016   0

DOCTORS in Redditch and Bromsgrove say the increase in local patients using the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham rather than Worcestershire Royal or the Alex is ‘relatively small’ and in line with increasing demand for hospital services across the country.

They further say the same applies to outpatient referrals, which have increased across the board, including at the local health trust, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT).

Their comments come in the wake of a letter from Dame Julie Moore, the chief executive of University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) to Councillor Bill Hartnett, the leader of Redditch borough council, in which she details a nine to 12 per cent increase in patients from Redditch and Bromsgrove travelling to the QE for emergency treatment rather than going to Worcester or the Alex.

Dame Julie further contends that she is ‘not convinced’ an agreement on a new hospital model for Worcestershire will ever be reached.




Her letter was revealed at the Redditch Borough Full Council Meeting on Monday night (September 26) in which she said: “I am still not convinced that any agreement on a new hospital model for Worcestershire will be reached as the underpinning of the review has been to focus solely on a new model that delivers a financially viable Worcestershire Acute Health Trust (WAHT) in essentially its current form.”

The letter also revealed how the increased use of Birmingham health services by Worcestershire residents is putting significant pressure on the hospitals and has contributed to increased waiting times for the local Birmingham population as well as for patients across the board awaiting specialist treatment such as cancer surgery.


The letter also says: “The proximity of Redditch to the QEHB and improved transport links will mean that a significant number of GPs and patients will continue to look to Birmingham as their local health system regardless of the commissioned pathway to Worcester.”

Neal Stote, from Save the Alex said: “This letter backs up everything we have been saying since the very beginning. What we have always said about people travelling North for their health treatment, about the more convenient transport options from Redditch to Birmingham, not to mention the difficulty WAHT is having in coping with the influx of patients from Redditch and Bromsgrove.

“Why would people in Redditch opt to travel to Worcester when they have leading specialist hospitals on their doorsteps in Birmingham?

“That a top NHS leader such as Dame Julie would admit that she does not believe an agreement will be reached for a new Worcestershire hospital model speaks volumes about the state we are now in.”

However Simon Trickett from Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) representing local doctors, said: “The rise in attendances and emergency admissions at UHB is similar to the rise in attendances and emergency admissions to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals. Outpatient referrals have also risen to UHB but these are in line with the increase in GP referrals to all providers including Worcestershire Acute Hospitals over the same period of time.

“The increasing numbers from Worcestershire are relatively small rising from 3,150 in 2013/14 to 3,658 in 2015/16.

“Similarly the number of emergency admissions from Worcestershire to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has risen by 220, from 1,541 to 1,761 in the past three years.

“Under the proposals outlined in the Future of Acute Hospital Services in Worcestershire clinical model, it’s important to note that 95 per cent of people will still receive their treatment and care from their local hospital.”

WAHT chief executive, Chris Tidman said: “It is disappointing that this letter was sent and we were not informed of these concerns. We are open to meet with the chair and CEO of UHB to understand their concerns about the potential impact on the QE and to give assurances that our plans seeks to minimise the impact on neighbouring providers.”

The annual general meeting of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust will be held this Thursday (September 29) at 5pm in the Charles Hastings Education Centre at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

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