Save Worcestershire A&E services


Worcester National Shop Stewards Network

NHS bosses have put forward six plans for the reorganisation of Hospital Services in Worcestershire. The majority of the plans involve the closure of either the Redditch Alexandra or Worcester Royal accident and emergency services.

Another plan which would see both A&Es remaining is deemed “not workable due to increasing service demand and a forecast shortage of qualified staff”.

The jobs cut by the Acute Hospitals Trust over the past three years are now affecting us all in the proposed closure of an A&E.

NHS chiefs aim to slash £200 million from their budget over the next few years. Stroke services are being lost from Redditch. Recuperative care for the elderly has been moved and is delivered by other agencies.

£16 million will be paid this year to Catalyst, the private PFI company making a packet out of its ownership of Worcester Royal.

The hospital cost £82 million to build but the NHS locally will make payments to Catalyst over 30 years totalling £942 million, an estimated total which goes up every year.

The whole PFI project should be brought back in house and managed fully as an NHS hospital. The money saved could be ploughed back into patient care.

Almost a decade ago maternity services in Redditch were under threat but a coordinated campaign won a massive victory and services were kept.


Stop Worcester and Redditch A&E closures

Public meeting

Wednesday 18 July, 7.30pm

St Andrews Church, Pump Street, Worcester WR1 2QT