Have your say about the future of the Alex Hospital (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Have your say about the future of the Alex Hospital

11:30am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in Local

AS many people as possible are being urged to have their say about the future of the Alexandra Hospital.

There have now been two public meetings held in Redditch, the most recent being last night Tuesday, July 10.

Both drew large amounts of people protesting against controversial plans which could see vital services removed from the hospital or the site closed.

Neal stote, from the Save The Alex campaign, said: ”Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust say they are carrying out a listening exercise, you do not have to listen very hard to realise that people are saying no to these proposals.

"Since the first meetings in Redditch and Bromsgrove thousands more people have signed the campaign’s petition which now stands at well over 25,000.

"The people of North Worcestershire have engaged and listened to the trust, it is now time for the trust to listen to them and drop proposals to remove A&E and maternity from the Alexandra Hospital."

As part of a shake-up of hospital services six different models, or plans, have been published by hospital chiefs for how and at which of the county’s three hospital sites - Redditch, Worcester and Kidderminster - services are provided in the future.

This is because the trust, which runs the hospitals, must plug a £50 million shortfall.

A full public consultation gets underway in November with a final decision expected in December.

Mr Stote added: "The trust have failed to provide any evidence to support their very limited models for future health care, they have failed to respond to the campaign’s invite to hold a question time event at The Palace Theatre and they have failed to follow through on their invite for the campaign to meet the clinicians behind these proposals.”

It has been revealed that the plans may be independently reviewed.

Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley said that if the public and their representatives don't agree it can be sent to him to be looked at independently.

He added that is was important the trust listened to the views of local people.

For more information on the proposals or how to get involved, visit savethealex.co.uk.