Redditch is growing so why is our vital healthcare moving? - The Redditch Standard

Redditch is growing so why is our vital healthcare moving?

Redditch Editorial 20th Jan, 2017 Updated: 21st Jan, 2017   0

CUTTING acute services at the Alexandra Hospital was branded a ‘social crime’ at last Saturday’s Health Commission meeting at Redditch town hall.

Resident Phil Berry spoke for many when he said: “Our research on the history of the Alex shows it was to be a new hospital for a growing community and Redditch is still growing.

“You do not build 3,200 houses in one place and 191 in another and there are proposals for even more without taking into account basic community needs.

“To reduce the acute services at your local hospital is a social crime – you do not even have an A&E that can provide all that an A&E should.”




The commission had been set up by the borough council as part of the consultation exercise launched by the county’s local doctors – grouped into three clinical commissioning groups – and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

They have come up with a plan which effectively endorses emergency measures which have already been taken – namely the centralisation of maternity, over night children’s services, emergency surgery all going to Worcester.


However health chiefs insist that A&E at the Alex will stay open and remain 24 hours a day.

Earlier the session had heard from an emotional Neal Stote, the former chairman of the now disbanded Save the Alex, who had described the 12 year journey that had brought the current situation to pass, the false dawns and dashed hopes and the complete failure of health chiefs to think outside of the Worcestershire box.

After pointing out that by centralising services in Worcester health care would move further away for the people of Redditch and Bromsgrove he said: “This trust has failed to work with anyone in Birmingham and that is why we are losing our services.”

Speaker after speaker urged members of the public to take part in the consultation and to fill in the document and send it back to the decision makers.

Sharon Harvey broached the transport issue: “20 per cent of the Redditch population do not have a carand they are talking about charging £27 for community transport to and from Worcester.

“For a lot of people in Redditch that’s a week’s shopping. A minibus will cost £10 each way – how many people in Redditch do not have £20?” she said.

“You have to take part in the consultation because there’s no point moaning about it if you cannot be bothered to respond, you might as well hide under a rock.”

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