SAVE the Alex campaigners have raised concerns over the financial viability of the proposed new model of health provision at the Alexandra Hospital.
They fear that such is the state of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT), which is projecting a loss of £65million for 2015/16, that services could be cut to make ends meet.
“The new model is expected to save £4.8million and, in a best case scenario, a further £20million, but you have to ask where is the other £45million is going to come from?” said Neal Stote, chairman of Save the Alex.
“We don’t want to be in a situation where, 15 months down the line after this model has received the go-ahead from NHS England, the trust turns around and says ‘well actually we can’t afford to keep it going and we’re going to reduce services at the Alex to a minor injuries unit.’”
WAHT says 95 per cent of adult casualties will still be dealt with at the Alex’s A&E department, with a paediatric assessment unit offering ‘robust arrangements for managing a seriously sick child if they arrive unexpectedly or their condition deteriorates’.
“I question that 95 per cent figure, you would have to look at the actual figures,” said Mr Stote, “and the seven days’ access unit for pregnant women is missing which means any mums-to-be who have a scare or an issue will have to travel to Worcester and I fear many will think twice about doing that,” he added.
He also questioned suggestions of upping the frequency the 350 bus, which currently travels from Redditch and Worcester three times a day to an hourly service, asking who would pay for this.
So far the proposed new model has won the backing of the county’s thee doctor-led clinical commissioning groups and is now awaiting approval from the West Midlands Clinical Assessment and NHS England before going out for public consultation.
In a statement, WAHT said: “The Clinical Model is expected to save £4.8 million and be the catalyst for a further £20 million of savings. Clarity on the proposed changes to services should enable Worcestershire Acute Hospitals to attract more permanent staff and reduce reliance on expensive temporary staff.
In addition, the national review into procurement savings undertaken by Lord Carter has identified that Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust could potentially achieve savings of £36.3 million by reducing unnecessary expenditure.
“The proposed clinical model provides for safe and sustainable clinical services across the county. Under the model 95 per cent of patients will see no change to the way they currently access services. Worcestershire will retain its two Accident and Emergency Departments and the Minor Injuries Unit at Kidderminster.”
