A MUCH-needed cash boost to fund the reorganisation of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust has been confirmed.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS England boss Simon Stevens have confirmed £29m of investment into the Worcestershire Royal and Alexandra Hospitals as part of £325m for local projects that will help the NHS to modernise and transform care for patients.

It is hoped patients will see this investment deliver faster diagnosis for conditions like cancer, easier access to mental health care, expansion of A&Es, shorter waits for operations, and more services in GPs surgeries.

Last week the Advertiser reported that the three county clinical commissioning groups, which hold the purse string of NHS care, unanimously approved a new clinical model at a meeting.

Thousands had objected to the proposals in the consultation period, including a particularly controversial plan to move all hospital births from the Alex in Redditch to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

All the governing bodies representatives approved the plan, but it still required £29 million of government funding to implement.

The Department of Health has now confirmed that this money will be made available which, after a final rubber stamping internally in the NHS, will then allow the reorganisation to go ahead.

According to the Trust, the money will also pay for a refurbishment and modernisation of the Alex's operating theatres, as well as works to endoscopy facilities.

A Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said they were 'delighted' with the announcement, adding: "These plans form part of an Outline Business Case which now needs to be approved by NHSI. We hope to have a final decision on this later in the summer.

“Subject to the necessary approvals being received, an implementation plan is in place to deliver these improvements by May 2020.”

Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “I am assured that my recent meetings with Jeremy Hunt and debate in Parliament regarding the Worcestershire Acute helped to push forward this decision – which of course I am absolutely delighted with.

“The people of Redditch deserve certainly of services and these upgrades will provide just that.

"I am confident following last week’s agreement by Clinical Commissioners to the acute services that are to be provided at the Alex, Redditch will retain a top class hospital going forward with modern and wide-ranging facilities."

She added: “Last week’s decision by the CCG board to centralise services at Worcester away from the Alex was disappointing but not surprising.

"And I made it very clear I didn’t support this – nor did the overwhelming majority of local people. I’ve written to the CCG board expressing disappointment so local people’s voices can be heard properly.

“But I also recognise that this process has been going on for years now, long before I became the MP, and I reluctantly conclude that my energies are best spent in moving forward to ensure commitments are now delivered.

"Today’s announcement is the first step and I won’t rest until we see them delivered."

I’m delighted with this news. World class local healthcare is my priority. This commitment is proof that this Government is listening.  

Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid added: "This new £29 million capital funding is excellent news for constituents. 

"It’s been my top priority to improve our local health services for my constituents and this funding unlocks so much potential for our local hospitals.”