BROMSGROVE MP Sajid Javid will have a "serious and frank discussion" with Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt over maternity fears.

Mr Javid, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, is set to meet Mr Hunt today Wednesday, November 18 following the shock maternity ward closure at Redditch's Alexandra Hospital - the main hospital serving Bromsgrove.

As the Advertiser revealed last month acute trust chiefs made the sudden announcement on Friday, October 30 that Redditch's maternity ward was to shut the following Thursday.

Patients in Bromsgrove are now being asked to visit Worcestershire Royal Hospital instead, with health bosses citing a lack of qualified staff at The Alex to cope.

Mr Javid said: “This will be a serious and frank discussion about our hospital. The uncertainty and delays we have been through as a community are simply unacceptable.

"I want safe local services kept at the Alex. I will therefore be calling for the publication of the independent CQC inspection of Worcestershire Acute Trust so that firm decisions can be taken."

It can also be revealed that pressure group Save the Alex campaign have launched an appeal to raise £10,000 to fund a legal challenge against the closure of the maternity unit.

Donations will be used so that local solicitors Irwin Mitchell can investigate whether Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's decision to close the department was lawful.

Speaking on social media, a spokesman for the group said: “We want to raise £10,000 which sounds a lot - but in a town of 84,000 that equates to less than 25p per person. The potential downgrade of our hospital will affect all 84,000, plus another 125,000 people from surrounding areas - please pledge what you can.”

For more information on the appeal, which has raised about £500, or to donate, visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/savethealex.