Government approves long awaited £29million to revamp acute health services in Worcestershire

THE £29million to carry out the re-organisation of acute health care in Worcestershire has been approved.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS England boss Simon Stevens confirmed the investment for Worcestershire Royal and Alex Hospitals as part of £325m for projects to help the NHS modernise and transform care for patients.
The government decision follows the approval last week by doctors from the three clinical commissioning groups in the county of their plans for the future of acute health care in Worcestershire.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are delighted with today’s announcement which gives us the necessary capital investment to provide more beds, increase car parking and improve facilities at the county’s hospitals.
“These improvements are needed in order to implement the clinical model for the future of acute hospital services in Worcestershire which was approved by the county’s three Clinical Commissioning Groups last week.
“This forms part of the long term Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) strategy.
“Plans for Worcestershire Royal Hospital include the partial refurbishment of Aconbury East to create 81 additional beds in three modern ward areas, increased paediatric and obstetric capacity, a High Dependency Unit and 141 new car parking spaces.
“At the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch plans include the refurbishment and modernisation of operating theatres and improvements to endoscopy facilities.
“These plans form part of an Outline Business Case which now needs to be approved by NHS Improvement. We hope to have a final decision on this later in the summer.
“Subject to the necessary approvals being received, an implementation plan is in place to deliver these improvements by May 2020.”
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “I am assured that my recent meetings with Jeremy Hunt and debate in Parliament regarding the Worcestershire Acute helped to push forward this decision – which of course I am absolutely delighted with.
“The people of Redditch deserve certainty of service and these upgrades will provide just that. I am confident following last week’s agreement by Clinical Commissioners to the Acute services that are to be provided at the Alex, Redditch will retain a top class hospital with modern and wide-ranging facilities.”
Mrs Maclean says she has also received assurances from Ministers that there will be a 24-hour A&E for adults at the Alex and 24-hour urgent care for under 16s, with an emergency response in place by ambulance to access lifesaving care in the best place in an emergency for under 16s.