A NEW medical unit has been created at Alexandra Hospital as part of a trial to improve patient care and reduce the pressure on A&E.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is working to improve patient flow through their hospitals by getting them home as quickly as possible.

The Acute Medicine and Urgent Care team are testing this new way of working at the Alex, and as part of this trial, a new Acute Medical Unit has been created with designated zones delivering a full range of services.

These three zones include an Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC) Unit, Assessment Unit/Same Day Emergency Care and a Medical Short Stay Unit.

Patients are referred to the Acute Medical Unit by GPs and the Emergency Department.

The trust hopes this pilot will ensure all patients in need of acute medical treatment are managed in the appropriate clinical setting when they arrive for care at the Alex, reducing pressure on A&E.

The trial has been welcomed by Redditch MP Rachel Maclean. She said: “Any innovative attempts to improve patient care at the Alex will be hugely welcomed by me.

"The unwavering commitment by doctors, nurses and all medical staff at our town’s hospital to improve services shines through in this pilot.

This month, Rachel launched her Alex Working Group with Trust bosses as part of her ongoing efforts to return services to the Alex.

Mrs Maclean added: “I look forward to finding out how the pilot is going when I next meet with Trust bosses at one of our Alex Working Group meetings.”

“I will carefully scrutinise the results of the pilot to ensure that, before making any permanent changes, the Trust can demonstrate that genuine improvements to patient care have been seen.

“This Alex Working Group demonstrates my unwavering commitment to our town’s hospital and my determination to fight for what my constituent’s want – the return of a maternity and children’s service.”