THE on-going hospitals revamp may be facing further delays after doctors have said they have fears over patient safety.

GPs from the 22 practices across Redditch and Bromsgrove, which form Redditch and Bromsgrove Advisory Forum, have written to their governing body expressing concerns regarding the Future of Acute Hospital Services in Worcestershire programme.

As it stands the proposed clinical model for the programme is the modified version of option 1 which was recommended by the independent clinical review panel in January 2014.

It involved the creation of a networked emergency centre at the Alexandra Hospital, the centralisation of maternity services at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and paediatric inpatients should be centralised in Worcester but a day-time consultant-led paediatric assessment unit at the Alex would accept referrals from GPs and other professionals. 

The panel did not support option 2, which was the one preferred by campaigners and local MPS, which would have seen another provider, one consideration being University Hospitals Birmingham, take over services at the Alexandra Hospital.

The letter says that despite extensive engagement to derive the best possible plan for clinical services they worry that the proposed clinical model may not be clinically and financially sustainable.

They add that the model should not progress further until it is supported by the doctors and
nurses at the Alex hospital.

In the letter they say: "As local GPs we need to be confident that the services to which we refer our
patients and the secondary care that they receive in both elective and emergency
situations is of the highest possible standard, is accessible, and is clinically and financially
sustainable.

"We do not believe that Modified Option 1 in its current form achieves these aims, and do not therefore support taking it to public consultation at this time.

"We also insist that work is carried out without delay to fully work up all possible options, including a
full and proper work-up of Option 2."

The news has been welcomed by leader of the Save The Alex Campaign Neal Stote who said that any more delays would be regrettable but if it results in a sustainable, long-term future for hospital services, then the move is a good thing.

The NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG AGM is taking place tonight from 6.30pm at Redditch Town Hall.

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