MP supports Alex Hospital campaigners' fears (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

MP supports Alex Hospital campaigners' fears

6:00pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News

REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley has lent her support to Alexandra Hospital campaigners regarding an application for a unit to free up A&E in Worcester.

The Advertiser reported that Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the Alex Hospital and the Worcester Royal, will be submitting a planning application for a temporary unit to support A&E at Worcester Royal.

The move has caused concern among campaigners who believe that, as part of a joint services review (JSR), services will shut at Redditch rather than the Private Finance Initiative hospital in Worcester.

The MP said: “This decision clearly highlights that there is a capacity issue in the system.

“It really does provide further rationale that any service losses to the A&E in Redditch would be the wrong move for this county and the people of Redditch.

“When there is a capacity issue for dealing with A&E patients, then the last thing which should be considered is the removal of a very effective functioning A&E service which already exists.”

She added: “It is vital that people are fully consulted over the changes, hospitals belong to the people and therefore have a full right to know what plans the trust has.

“In the next round of public meetings, I have already told the trust it must be open in what its plans are.”