27/7/2006 - Save the Alex - Campaign Update

Following a lively public meeting in Studley earlier this week at which John Rosstil, the Worcester Acute Hospitals Trust Chief Executive faced some very challenging questions from both public, councillors and NHS professionals campaigners have pledged to keep fighting.

Neal Stote from the Save the Alex Action Group said

The West Midlands Strategic Health Authority at the last project board meeting said and I quote "the current proposals are not fit for purpose".

This and the fact the maternity unit was so busy over the weekend of 22 / 23 July that staff tell us beds had to be brought out of storage and the unit was on "code red" are just 2 reasons why we must stand up and fight. The trust claim to have outside clinical evidence, despite me, the PCT, and our local MP asking for this weeks ago we have received nothing. The so called evidence is almost certainly clinical opinion that will change depending on who you ask.

We are building broad political support we are working with the Redditch, Bromsgrove and the Stratford MP and hope to have a joint meeting with them soon. Campaigners are working towards what they hope to be their biggest protest yet on 5th of October at the Alex before the Trust board have a meeting at the hospital. To make this happen they are appealing for volunteers to help staff campaign desks in town centres, supermarkets and the Alex it's self, they need help with door to door leafleting. The group are also looking for donations to help fund campaign costs, Neal Stote said

We must continue to fight these cuts before it is to late, please help us in anyway you can. The more people who protest on October 5th the harder it will be for the trust to remove vital family services from our local hospital's. If you can help or would like to donate some money please contact me on 07989 563 864 or e-mail me at info@savethealex.co.uk.