REDDITCH and Bromsgrove clinical commissioning group (CCG) has been rated ‘inadequate’ in NHS England’s annual review.

The body, which is responsible for the planning and commissioning of health care services, has also been criticised for its managing of finances.

It’s handling of dementia, learning disabilities, maternity, and mental health all ‘require improvement’, but its cancer care has been labelled as ‘good’.

The CCG’s financial plan was graded as ‘amber’, its quality of leadership as ‘red’ – the worst rating – while its in-year financial performance to mark whether it is likely to meet the plan was also placed in the red.

In its own annual report, the CCG outlined a deficit target of £5.5 million to hit a £13.8m savings target for the year, which it admitted left “financial pressures”.

A spokesperson for Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG said: “We are obviously disappointed with our rating but it does reflect where the CCG was financially last year.

“We continue to work hard to address the financial challenges and are confident this progress will be reflected in future ratings.”

The CCG’s ‘inadequate’ rating means it should not have voted on recent changes in health services, according to campaigners.

It voted in favour of moving all hospital births from the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch to Worcester, and controversially cutting IVF treatments and prescriptions available.

Labour group leader at Worcestershire County Council, Brecon ward councillor Peter McDonald, said: “They are not fit to make any recommendations that affect the NHS and north Worcestershire.

“I find it absolutely astonishing that anybody can take any notice of a committee of the CCG who have been found inadequate.”

Bromsgrove Against Cuts campaigner Kevin Greenway added: “It is absolutely outrageous that Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, whom it was surely known were about to be declared 'inadequate' in the NHS England Annual Review, voted at all.

“How can it be reasonable and fair for those deemed to be failing, with remaining financial doubts surrounding their work, to have participated in the downgrading decision?”

A CCG spokesman added the moving of services under the Future of Acute Hospital Services in Worcestershire programme was ‘not done due to finances’.