AN online row has erupted over comments made by a chaplain in which he compared a trip to hospital to driving to Ikea.

On Friday, August 14 it was announced a temporary centralisation of emergency gynaecology services from Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital to Worcestershire Royal Hospital was to remain in place for at least six months over fears there were not enough doctors to cover both sites.

After campaigners expressed concerns about the impact on women in the north of the county, chaplain at the Royal Rev David Southall tweeted on Tuesday, August 18: “I would have thought patient safety trumped distance travelled. People go to Ikea for less.”

The tweet, which has since been deleted, promoted a fiery reaction, particularly from pressure group Save the Alex and its supporters.

Rev Southall, who writes a good news blog, and Save the Alex have since engaged in a long debate over Twitter, with many more adding their views.

One said: “I find your comment quite offensive and not very helpful to the women & children of North Worcestershire” while another branded it “shockingly stupid”.

Speaking to the BBC Save the Alex chairman Neal Stote branded the message “insensitive”, saying people in the north of the county were seriously concerned about the relocation of services.

“If the service had been moved away from the Royal do you think the women in Malvern would say it’s been centralised?” he said. “No, it’s been moved further away.

“The patient safety issue isn’t the debate, it’s the way it’s been communicated.

Addressing Rev Southall directly, he added: “You have really overstepped your mark and you only have to look at the feedback on our Facebook page to see that”.

But Rev Southall stood by the message, calling the reference to Ikea “a bit of banter”.

“I was trying to point out that people travel a long distance for lots of less important things,” he said.

“To travel on your own in the car I understand as a poorly person is not ideal – that’s why we have the ambulance service.”

Campaigners have also criticised Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS chairman Harry Turner for retweeting the message.

Mr Turner has since deleted his Twitter account after saying he had been receiving abuse.