REDDITCH Labour has called on health chiefs at the county’s acute trust to explain what they are doing to ensure local people have safe access to hospital services.
It follows reports of A&E waiting times of up to 14 hours and with bus services cancelled last Tuesday, August 10, due to queues of emergency vehicles.
Activists say that earlier this month almost a dozen ambulances were left queuing outside Worcestershire Royal’s A&E department, with more than 20 people waiting to be seen.
Councillor Andrew Fry. (Lab, Lodge Park) Labour group leader at Redditch Borough Council, said: “Essential services have been systematically stripped out of the Alex – children’s A&E, paediatrics, maternity, stroke and most recently the Garden Suite chemotherapy unit, which was ‘temporarily’ moved to Kidderminster.
“We are now seeing the consequences of years of running down services, with A&E waiting times growing longer while more and more residents face the additional stress of travelling to Worcester. This is especially difficult for those with no access to a car.
“We want the Trust to tell the people of Redditch: what are they doing to ensure vital hospital services are accessible and safe for residents?”
Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Teams across our two Emergency Departments, GP surgeries, community nursing and social care have been working incredibly hard to ensure we effectively manage patient flow through our hospitals.
“We would urge the public to contact NHS 111, either online or by calling 111 to receive free urgent care advice before attending our A&E department, and to only use 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
“Please also remember you can seek help from a local Minor Injury Unit (MIU) for a variety of injuries including; wounds, sprains, strains and minor burns with much shorter waiting times.”
