FOLLOWING reports of a possible further downgrading of A&E services at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch MP Karen Lumley has said she met with interim chief executive at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Chris Tidman, over the Easter break, and he gave assurances to her about the Alex.
She said: “I was assured the Trust remains fully committed to the clinical model which has been developed by clinicians and is currently going forward to the Clinical Senate. This proposal supports an adult only A&E and a new GP urgent care service which means that 95 per cent of patients will continue to be seen and assessed at the Alex.
“This model has the support of all clinicians and the three CCGs in the county and we should let the Clinical Senate do its job then let the people of Redditch have their say at the consultation which will follow, but I will be monitoring the process at every stage as I always have done.
“I am aware that the West Midlands Clinical Senate are due to visit on Thursday next week (April 21) as part of their assurance work, and I would like to praise the staff that are working at all of our hospitals as this is a very unsettling time for them.”
Mrs Lumley has also written to Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, asking for additional capital funding for the Acute Trust.
Mr Tidman asked for Mrs Lumley’s help with additional funding to help modernise hospital theatres, including that used for breast surgery, and the endoscopy Unit at the Alex. The hospital also needs funding to buy ‘Rory the Robot’ in order that they can perform major prostate cancer operations in a way that cuts recovery time and side effects.
Mrs Lumley wrote the letter to ask for added resources amounting to around £4m and awaits a response.
She said: “I am aware that the hospital is close to raising £200k already from the fund raising appeal for ‘Rory the Robot’ and I am told that this could be doubled this year with a concerted effort, but realistically between £1m and £1.6m is needed for this project alone and so I have written to the Department of Health for top-up funding for these projects.
“If we could achieve this it would provide a major boost for the staff at the hospital and for the people of Redditch.”
