PCT raise concern over plans
by Rob George
04/08/2006

THE ORGANISATION which governs healthcare in Bromsgrove and Redditch has raised concerns about controversial plans which could see maternity and paediatrics serviced axed.

Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care Trust (PCT) board members raised the matter at a meeting earlier this month and focused their attentions on the on-going review of services.

As part of their wide-ranging Clinical and Finance Review, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust announced last month that the maternity and paediatric services at the Alex could be axed as the trust looks to save money.

The unit delivers around 2,000 babies a year and the plans have already attracted fierce opposition from local campaigners and mums-to-be who could face a 15-mile journey to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital to have their babies.

At the meeting, acting chief executive Gillian Entwistle highlighted five recommendations placed on the trust by the review project board as conditions to taking the proposals forward.

The conditions called for clarity on why the reconfiguration options are being proposed and on the impact on services while the proposed changes came into force.

The conditions also asked for financial information such as the affordability of establishing a women's hospital at the Worcester site.

Further information was needed on the protocols to be enforced in any new system - for example how would the Alex deal with a critically sick child and how the plans would affect patients' right to choose their hospital.

PCT Chairman Graham Vickery said in his report that the proposal to construct a new specialist women's provision in Worcester was surprising.

"It's surprising given the case presented to the trust which showed North Worcestershire patients would choose to travel to Birmingham rather than Worcester - there being already specialist and well known hospitals there." he added.

Neal Stote from Save the Alex said: "The conditions imposed just show how little work went into putting the current draft consultation proposals together."

The Project Board is scheduled to meet again in September to review the results of the work outlined above before a public consultation in the autumn.