ORTHOPAEDIC surgery could be centralised in Redditch as part of an extensive revamp of hospital care in Worcestershire.

As part of the long-running Future of Acute Hospital Service in Worcestershire project patients are to be consulted on plans to make the Alexandra Hospital the county's centre of excellence for orthopaedics.

If the plans go ahead Kidderminster Hospital will continue to provide some minor orthopaedic while Worcestershire Royal Hospital will concentrate on emergency procedures.

Orthopaedics is the branch of medicine concerned with bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.

Clinical lead for planned orthopaedics at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the three hospitals, Melwyn Pereira said designating the Alex as a centre of excellence would be of great benefit to patients.

“Operations will be performed in dedicated theatres with specialist staff and equipment,” he said.

“By separating our planned and emergency work it means we will be much less likely to cancel operations.

“This will give our patients greater certainty about when their operation will take place and will improve their experience.

“Patients will be nursed in specialist wards with specialist rehabilitation which will enable them to return home as quickly as possible.”

The trust’s clinical lead for trauma Charlie Docker said the change would mean surgeons in Worcester could deal with emergencies such as broken bones without having to cancel elective operations.

The proposed clinical model for the project is currently being reviewed by the West Midlands Clinical Senate.

Once this process is complete it will be submitted to NHS England for approval before being put out for public consultation.

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