EMERGENCY gynaecology services from Redditch's Alexandra Hospital will remain centralised in Worcester for the foreseeable future, it has been announced.

The services at the Alex Hospital were relocated to Worcestershire Royal Hospital on a temporary basis on August 6 over fears there were not enough doctors to cover both sites.

Although it had previously been stated the controversial move would only last 10 days, last week it was announced the change would remain in force until February next year, and possibly longer.

In a joint statement the county’s three Clinical Commissioning Groups, as well as Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and the programme board managing the long-delayed project reorganising hospital care in the county, said it had become apparent it would not be possible to fill posts at the Alex.

As a result the acute trust is no longer able to run separate gynaecology and obstetrics services at both hospitals.

Redditch MP Karen Lumley admitted she was "shocked" at learning that the temporary relocation appears likely to extend until next year.

"I was assured personally by the chairman of the Worcesteshire Acute Health Trust that the relocation was to be for only a week, so this development has shocked me as much as everyone," she said.

"I have already written today to the Secretary of State for Health, The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, to ask for reassurance that there is sufficient capacity to take the Redditch patients at Worcester Royal, and also if to ask if consideration has been given to how patients and their families are going to get to Worcester.

"I am also writing to Chris Tidman, Interim Chief Executive at the Worcestershire Acute hospitals NHS Trust to ask the same questions."

Mrs Lumley added: "Since I was informed that this relocation was to last for a week, not six months, I find it unacceptable that I should learn of this change from a newspaper, and not directly from the trust."

"However, I feel strongly that since the changes have been made for reasons of safety, since the trust has been unable to recruit sufficient junior doctors to run a fully staffed service, then I wouldn’t want Redditch mums to be at the Alex until such a time as safety is assured.

"I am seeking reassurance from the Secretary of State and the Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust that this change is temporary and have asked to be kept informed at all stages of the process."

Chairman of pressure group Save the Alex Neal Stote described the move as an "attack on women and families" and said the change was another example of the Alex being downgraded by stealth.

"We are one step away from services at the Alex fully going," he said.

It is estimated the move will affect about 10 women a week.

Although Health Education West Midlands will not review the possibility of filling the posts at the Alex with junior doctors until February 2016, the acute trust and the CCGs have pledged to reverse the change as soon as possible.