REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley will be discussing the future of the Alexandra Hospital in Parliament.

Mrs Lumley has 30 minutes to make her case why vital services should remain at the Alex at Westminster Hall on February 12.

She will also be asking Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter under what circumstances he will allow the transfer of the hospital to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

The move comes after the MP made behind the scenes dealings with Birmingham trusts public.

Currently the NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is in talks with University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham Women’s NHS Foundation Trust about services in Redditch.

Concerns have been raised about the future of the Alex Hospital as part of the joint services review (JSR) which seeks to address staff shortages by centralising some NHS services.

It is also hoped the JSR can save £50 million over the next three years from across Worcestershire acute hospitals.

The review is needed because the demands placed on the health service by an aging population which is living longer is increasing faster than the cash available to pay for care

No options have yet been announced but there is agreement across the NHS and among other partners that ‘no change’ is not an option.