FRUSTRATED council leaders are joining forces to urge the Secretary of State to step in and make sure that the future of health services is based on residents’ needs.

In a letter to Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP they ask that University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) is allowed to bid for the provision of health services to be provided at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Signed by Redditch Council leader Bill Hartnett, Bromsgrove District Council leader Roger Hollingworth and Stratford District Council leader Chris Saint, it comes a year after all models under the Joint Services Review (JSR) were worked up.

The letter questions whether the consultation which followed was a true consultation.

UHB is in the running to take over control of the Alex Hospital as part a £50m cost-saving reconfiguration of acute services.

The other option in the much-delayed process is for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to continue running the hospital, with A&E, obstetrics, and paediatric services being downgraded in favour of more centralisation at Worcestershire Royal.

As time ticks by the leaders are asking for the decision to be called in by the Secretary of State for Health.

Councillor Hartnett said: “This looks like a farce and I am very frustrated that a year on there seems to have been little efforts to seek a provider from outside the county

“It seems like a done deal and one which is not taking into account the well-being of our residents and those in Bromsgrove and Stratford.

“I am pleased we have pushed politics to one side and are presenting a strong united force as we strive to protect our residents and I hope the secretary recognises our plight and steps in to make sure the right decisions are made.”

All leaders have offered to travel to London to meet with Mr Hunt in a bid to secure the future of healthcare services as quickly as possible.