A GROWING debate on where county hospital services could end up risks setting Worcestershire’s population at each others’ throats, a leading councillor claims.

County councillor and Worcestershire health watchdog member Fran Oborski said the people of Kidderminster and Redditch would be pitched against each other under two “irresponsible” models which have been floated by hospital chiefs.

Her concern is echoed by former Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor, who painted a scenario where “the rest of the county could gang up” on Kidderminster.

Six different models have been published by NHS hospital chiefs for how and at which of the county’s three hospital sites at Worcester, Redditch and Kidderminster, services are provided in the future.

Under the joint services review (JSR), health bosses are facing painful choices answering the question of how to provide NHS services with a capped budget.

Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust alone must plug a £50 million shortfall with the knowledge that running services as they are at Worcestershire Royal, the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital is no longer viable.

Problems include an increasing elderly population, a forecast shortage of experienced qualified doctors, and an NHS funding cap imposed by the Government.

Coun Oborski has already criticised two of the models which would see one A&E-equipped hospital and then other services, such in-patient operations, or a single minor injuries unit, being split up across two other locations.

“It is absolutely critical we have services – not specifying which – at both the Alexandra and Kidderminster,” she said.

She said a minimum level of service, including a minor injuries unit, primary care services and planned surgery must be provided at both.

Dr Taylor, a member of the stakeholder board which is part of the JSR process, said: “People in Redditch and the rest of Worcestershire will be up in arms about the possibility of the Alexandra closing.

“And I can see there being a battle for us in Kidderminster to maintain what we have.

“It will be a struggle because the rest of the county could gang up against us. We will fight that tooth and nail.”