REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean has published a report to make a case for how Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust could return an A&E and inpatient paediatric children’s service to the Alexandra Hospital.
It follows a similar report in July in which the MP explained how a maternity service could be provided at the hospital.
This report also looks at how children’s services are provided in other parts of England, including North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which serves a similar population size to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals. There, inpatient children’s services are provided at two hospitals.
And the document states government investment in the NHS and the recruitment of more doctors and nurses would support the return of a children’s service.
Mrs Maclean said: “During the emergency phase of the pandemic there were times where it would not have been appropriate of me to raise this campaign when rightly the Trust was focused on saving as many lives as possible.
“However, the work behind the scenes never stopped and this has culminated in this report which forms part of my Long-Term Plan for the Alex which will also be published in due course.”
Mrs Maclean has sent the report to the Chief Executive of the Acute Trust and the Chief Executive of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire, asking for a response to the points she has made.
Redditch Labour said it was ‘unimpressed’ with Rachel Maclean’s plan.
Coun Sharon Harvey said: “The report into returning children’s services to Redditch is merely an attempt to convince disgruntled voters that she is a campaigner for NHS services.
“There is no available space at the Alex for a children’s ward (or a maternity unit).
“The previous locations are now used for other services as the Trust strives to make the Alex an elective surgery centre.
“Unless a new building is provided these services cannot be returned.”
Coun Joe Baker added: “Rachel Maclean has failed on her many election promises and has had more than ample time to sort out this problem.
“She has done nothing to explore links with Birmingham and refuses to challenge any central government decisions.
“This report is simply a last-ditch effort to fool the public into thinking she has any influence or power over the Trust.”
Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said they had invested in improving and expanding their services.
He added: “The Alexandra is being actively developed as a centre of excellence for planned surgery and in that role has a vital part to play in reducing waiting times and improving the quality of care for patients waiting for a wide range of surgery and other procedures.
“The changes to maternity and paediatric services were the subject of extensive public consultation and were followed by an inclusive public service review which endorsed the service changes as presenting the best way to deliver sustainable and high-quality services for patients.”
Click here to read Rachel Maclean’s report in full.
