Residents say “no” to cuts at the Alexandra Hospital (From Redditch Advertiser)
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Residents say “no” to cuts at the Alexandra Hospital
3:00pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Local
Labour's Parliamentary spokesman Rebecca Blake outside the Alex Hospital
AS well as more than 53,000 signatures on the Save the Alex Campaign’s petition, more than 550 responses have been collected from local people saying “no” to cuts at the Alexandra Hospital.
The signatures, and the response forms, are part of the ongoing campaign to make sure vital services remain at the hospital.
This is because Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Alex as well as the Worcester Royal and Kidderminster hospitals, must plug a £50 million shortfall.
To that end a joint services review (JSR) was set up to decide how future services will be provided at all three hospitals - a move which could see the Alex stripped of its A&E or closed.
Last week Labour's Parliamentary spokesman, Rebecca Blake, met with the chief executive of the trust to present the responses.
Ms Blake said: "Given I have received over 550 written responses to date from people across Redditch and surrounding areas who want to keep the Alex, A&E and maternity in Redditch, I want to leave the trust in no doubt of the importance of these services for local people.”
The Advertiser reported last week that a shortlist of options, as part of the JSR, had been delayed for further discussion.
At the time of going to press no date has been given for the publication of the shortlist, however public consultation is due to start in November.
Ms Blake added: "As for the delay in announcing shortlisted options, we must use this time to continue to hammer home that as the fastest growing town in Worcestershire, full emergency services and maternity are essential for Redditch.
“We won't settle for proposals that do not include these services.”
A spokesman from the Save the Alex Campaign thanked everyone for their support and stressed the fight must go on.
For the latest information on the Save the Alex Campaign, visit savethealex.co.uk or redditchadvertiser.co.uk .
honestscott says...
5:23pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Is woodrow still part of the Greenlands ward? may be she should walk around the estate once in a while as its looking run down and could do with one of those political Litter picks the labour group used to be fond of !