REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean along with other Worcestershire MPs, has met with Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt to discuss her priorities for the Alexandra Hospital.
During the meeting she raised the issues of reconfiguration of acute hospital services in the county and asked when the promised £29million investment would be forthcoming.
In addition she also talked of the difficulty of many Redditch people getting to and from Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
She said: “I do want to be able to give people an assurance that if the population does grow significantly, we should expect to see maternity services returned to the Alex.”
• HEALTH Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been quizzed by Redditch MP Rachel Maclean over staff retention and recruitment.
During a regular session of Health Oral Questions in the House, Mrs Maclean asked what actions the Department of Health was taking to help Trusts such as the Worcestershire Acute (WAHT) as they faced particular pressures recruiting and retaining staff.
Her question follows reports that more nurses are leaving the profession than starting it.
Mr Hunt replied that he was very aware of the issues faced by WAHT as he had visited the Alex himself during the recent difficult winter period.
He added: “They have now got a new chief executive officer and new leadership team who have made a very promising start.
“Through experience though – it is almost never about the commitment of staff – it is about getting the right leadership team in place and I can assure her (Mrs Maclean) that I did see outstanding commitment from the staff at the Trust.”
