ANY suggestion an Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at the Alexandra Hospital could cause the downgrading of the Accident & Emergency unit in Redditch have been refuted by local MP Rachel Maclean.
Mrs Maclean has launched an appeal to bring forward the implementation of the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at the Alex after it was promised during consultation into Acute Services in Worcestershire last year.
However, it has since been suggested a UCC would see the downgrading of the hospital’s A&E.
“To suggest that the implementation of the Urgent Care Centre at the Alex will cause the downgrade of the A&E is pure mischief making,” she said.
“I launched my petition following full consultation with Simon Trickett at the Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The Urgent Care Centre will work alongside the A&E, and to put about that A&E will be downgraded as a result is a deliberate lie.
“To clarify, the A&E at the Alex is a Type 1 A&E and national guidelines state that Urgent Care Centres can replace Types 3 and 4 only.
“In the recent past we have seen how the desires of local residents have been ignored by the authorities when health services have been removed – so if anyone was in any doubt, that is why this petition most certainly is needed.”
The MP’s petition was launched at the end of February to bring forward, without further delay, plans for the promised Urgent Care Centre in Redditch. It will be presented by her to the House of Commons.
The petition is available to download and print from https://www.rachelmaclean.uk/. Residents should send copies of the petition back to ‘Freepost RACHEL MACLEAN MP’ (in capitals where indicated), no later than 13 April. Please call the office on 01527 591334 if you require forms to be sent out.
