THERE were no babies born at the Alexandra Hospital this Christmas, but midwives at Worcestershire Royal welcomed six bouncing bundles of joy on December 25.
The pink and blue bunting was out in equal measure at the hospital’s delivery suite and Meadow Birth Centre with three girls and three boys born during Christmas Day – two of which were the newest additions to Redditch families.
The celebrations come after the Alex’s maternity unit closed on November 5 – meaning expectant mothers now have to travel to Birmingham or Worcester to give birth after the announcement that there is not enough staff at the Alex to operate the unit safely.
Neal Stote, chairman of Save the Alex campaign, said: “I think it is incredibly sad that we now no longer have a maternity unit at the Alex.
“For years I’ve been threatening to borrow a donkey and ride the 18 miles to Worcester to illustrate the appalling way this Trust (Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust) is treating the people of Redditch, because for those of us that don’t have access to a car that’s what it amounts to.”
