REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley has held face-to-face talks with health minister Philip Dunne after hopes for a £29 million boost to acute health services in Worcestershire were put on hold.
The cash, for improved operating theatres at the Alexandra Hospital and increased parking at Worcestershire Royal, among other projects, forms a crucial part of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s plans for future care in the county.
However whilst the go-ahead has been given to start public consultation on the proposals, the National Investment Committee has refused to hand over the money until it sees more detail on the plan.
“They are saying we have to have the consultation first before they hand over the money, my view is that without the money what are you consulting as we need something concrete,” said Mrs Lumley.
“I made it clear to the minister that without the money the theatres at the Alex would not be refurbished and there would be no relieving the pressure on Worcestershire Royal and he has gone away to think about that.
“I have also invited the minister to visit the Alex to see the situation for himself because, at the end of the day, if anything happened to the Alex, Worcester would not be able to cope.”
The delay means the funds, if forthcoming, would not be released until at least late May or June, putting a further delay on a programme already five years in the making.
Health campaigners have reacted with dismay at the news, Neal Stote, chairman of the Save the Alex campaign, branding it ‘another miserable failure’.
“As a taxpayer you can’t blame them really; the trust was £59 million in the red last year, is heading for a £34 million loss this year and they obviously don’t want to throw good money after bad. In other words, it’s another miserable failure by the trust,” he said.
However consultation will start on January 3, 2017 on the main proposed changes:
1) Creation of centres of excellence for planned surgery.
2) Urgent care centre for adults and children at the Alex.
3) Adult only A&E at the Alex.
4) Centralisation of inpatient care for children, consultant-led births, and emergency surgery at Worcester.
A spokesperson for the Future of Acute Hospitals in Worcestershire Programme said: “The National Investment Committee has supported the start of public consultation on the plans but has asked for additional work to be undertaken to understand the details of some of the impacts the changes will have. We will work with NHS England to answer their concerns before starting consultation at the beginning of January.”
