REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean, MP took the hopper bus service from the Alexandra Hospital to a meeting and visit to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Tuesday.
She spent three hours being shown round some of the wards and departments by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chairman Caragh Merrick, who updated her on the current status of the Trust and her ambitions for its future.
“My whole day was extremely encouraging,” said Mrs Maclean.
“First of all the hopper bus journey proved very pleasant and hassle free – and second I learned about some of the good news stories coming from the hospital.”
The MP was shown round the specialist cardiac ward, the Silver Assessment unit for the elderly frail, as well as the Riverbank ward for paediatric patients, the Meadow Birth Centre and finally Accident & Emergency.
“I was fascinated to learn details of plans to make Redditch an essential part of the strategy to deliver specialist county-wide services,” said Mrs Maclean.
“For instance it is to become the centre for the elderly frail, and essentially, the go-ahead has been given for a vital upgrade and enlargement of the A&E department in Worcester, which is to be welcomed given recent pressures on that department.
“The birthing facilities at Worcester are some of the best in the country, while I was pleased to see how friendly and welcoming the paediatric ward was for the parents of very poorly children.
“Staff at the hospital have been through the mill with the recent Care Quality Commission report and publicity surrounding re-organisation, but it is heartening to see how professional and caring all the staff remain.
“I think it’s also well worth saying that I have heard and the staff have told me about some of the recent feedback they’ve had from Redditch families about the excellent care they’ve received at the hospital.”
Mrs Maclean is calling for the transport service to be continued after August and will be organising a visit to Redditch’s Alex in the near future.
