THE public consultation on the Future of Acute Hospital Services in Worcestershire, including the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, reaches its half way stage this week.
In the first five weeks of consultation nearly 800 people across the county have attended meetings and drop in sessions to hear more about the plans to reorganise hospital services.
In the next six weeks further drop-in sessions have been arranged for:
Thursday, February 23, Studley Village Hall, 4-7pm
Monday, March 6, Alexandra Hospital main corridor 11am-3pm
Wednesday, March 8, Salters Medical Practice, Droitwich 2-5pm
Friday, March 10, Worcestershire Royal Hospital main entrance 11am-3pm
More than 700 people have completed the online questionnaire on the proposals which is available at www.worcsfuturehospitals.co.uk
The changes mainly involve the centralisation of emergency cases, maternity services and overnight children’s services at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Irrespective of the changes health chiefs say 95 per cent of people would continue to receive their care in the same hospital as now and 80 per cent of children who currently receive their treatment at the Alexandra Hospital would continue to do so.
Both Accident and Emergency Departments would remain open 24-hours a day but due to the transfer of inpatient children’s beds, the A&E at the Alexandra Hospital would be for adults (over 16 years old) only.
Both the Alexandra and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals would have new Urgent Care Centres which would treat adults and children with minor and moderate illnesses and injuries. Diagnostic tests and outpatient appointments would take place in all three hospitals, as now.
The Consultation runs until March 30, 2017.
