AN AMBITIOUS plan to overhaul Worcestershire’s three acute hospitals has hit a stumbling block.

A meeting of the South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group on Thursday, May 22 heard NHS England had said it was not happy for the project to continue to go ahead until the cash needed – thought to be about £35 million – was guaranteed.

The plans involve the most seriously ill or injured patients being taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital while consultant-led maternity and paediatric services are centralised at the hospital.

Speaking at this week’s meeting the CCG’s chief operating officer Simon Trickett said NHS England had told the organisation a planned public consultation into the plans should not be launched until the money required was guaranteed.

But he said the consultation is still expected to go ahead this summer.

Transport links between Worcester Royal, Kidderminster Hospital and Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital are also set to be reviewed.

For more information on the project visit www.worcsfuturehospitals.co.uk.