HEALTH authorities have cut back on operations at Redditch's Alexandra Hospital to help cope with the busy January period.

The disclosure comes after health secretary Jeremy Hunt apologised to patients whose operations are facing delays as the NHS in England struggles to cope with mounting winter pressures.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said that the trust developed a winter plan with Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, the three clinical commissioning groups and Worcestershire County Council.

The plan included a "phased reduction" in the numbers of operations for January at The Alex Hospital.

Operations have also been out back at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

A spokesman said: “Our priority is to help people stay well through winter. If they do become unwell, our aim is to provide as much of their care as possible closer to home, and by doing so ease pressure on emergency departments and other parts of the urgent care system which will then be able to focus on helping the most seriously ill patients.

“A number of actions have already been taken – including the recent opening of a new countywide frailty service based at the Alexandra Hospital and work to expand and improve the Ambulatory Emergency Care unit at Worcestershire Royal. The expanded unit will provide a consultant-led service that helps to speed up decisions about what treatment patients require."

Other steps include:

•An expanded GP home visiting service for those patients who are really unwell;

•Patients who have had a fall but haven’t suffered any obvious broken bones will be taken to minor injuries units rather than A&E;

•Organisations working together to support the discharge of patients from hospital if they are medically fit, particularly those who have been in hospital for a week or more;

•More beds for patients who are medically fit for discharge from hospital but who need long-term care in a care home.

The spokesman added: "We are also urging people across the county to play their part by looking after their own health, making sure they get their flu jabs and choosing wisely when it comes to which part of the health and care system they turn to when they need help."