UNDERFIRE health chiefs have defended plans for the future of acute hospital services in Worcestershire after being heavily grilled by members of Studley parish council.
Councillor and councillor lined up to fire questions at programme director Lucy Noon and her colleague Claire Austin from the doctor-led clinical commissioning groups in which they voiced fears over the removal of services from the Alexandra Hospital and the level of care afforded to local people.
In the process they discovered that:
1) Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT) didn’t explore further links with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham because it does not provide paediatric care for children or maternity services. These are offered by two other trusts at Birmingham Women’s Hospital and the Childrens.
2) The Alex alone couldn’t be run by the QE as that would make health provision across the rest of Worcestershire unsustainable.
3) Because of this the future of the Alex was assured, although it would be as a centre for planned care rather than major emergencies.
In the wake of the tragic death of eight year old Callum Cartlidge and the decision to move in-patient childrens care and emergencies to Worcester, Ms Noon said: “This is obviously a tragic case and it is difficult to comment at the moment.
“The GPs have recommended this model and the clinical experts say this is the best model to ensure children will be safe.
“We are working with the ambulance trust to make sure the right protocols are in place and we will work with the acute trust to make sure their services are safe.”
Earlier district councillor Hazel Wright had asked what was the point of consulting on the changes given that they had already taken place.
Ms Noon acknowledged the exercise was a legal requirement and agreed there was no other option on the table.
“We realise we have to be honest, given the finances and medical workforce we have available this is the best option.
“We have made the changes on a temporary basis and now we need to move on.”
