Called to account: Health Watchdog hits out over Alex move - The Redditch Standard

Called to account: Health Watchdog hits out over Alex move

Redditch Editorial 19th Nov, 2021   0

EXPLAIN yourself!

That’s the message to acute health chiefs after it was revealed by a whistleblower that major trauma cases will no longer go to Accident and Emergency at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

The call comes from the HealthWatch Worcestershire after it was discovered on last Thursday that from Saturday, November 13, major trauma cases would by pass the Alex instead go straight to Worcestershire Royal.

While noting that the ‘direction of travel’ of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust was to send more serious cases A&E cases straight to Worcester and put elective surgery into Redditch, HealthWatch managing director Simon Adams said from the perspective of communication, the Trust should have run ‘a comprehensive publicity campaign’ of any changes.




He said: “I actually think this is a bigger issue than just for Redditch,” while Jo Ringshall, chair of the county health watchdog added: “People need to know where to go.”

The action by the acute trust – making a change without telling the public, press or even local MPs – is also in breach of the Care Quality Commission’s ‘Duty of Candour’ to be ‘Open, Honest and Transparent’.


The issue was raised before HealthWatch by Joshua Godfrey who was there representing Redditch MP Rachel Maclean.

She has written a three page letter to Matthew Hopkins, the chief executive of the acute trust demanding an explanation for its actions.

In it she asks what sort of trauma cases will now be treated at the Alex, the reasons behind the decision and what the ambulance service has been told.

She also points out that with the Royal under increasing pressure it seems counter-productive to heap more pressure on it by removing serious trauma cases from the Alex.

She further adds: “I am particularly concerned that these changes will exacerbate existing health inequalities as Redditch patients will be required to travel further for treatment.”

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “These plans have been part of the clear vision for each of our hospitals that was set out in our Clinical Services Strategy, which was written with input from patients and the public and built upon the work done as part of the Acute Services Review.

“The changes have been at the heart of our plans several years and have been widely discussed with our stakeholders.”

HealthWatch Worcestershire said they would be writing to Mr Hopkins asking for an explanation and to ask what plans they had for properly communicating the changes.

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