Wednesday, 11 October 2012
NHS Worcestershire has decided to focus its review on delivering services at all three acute hospitals across the county.
Following a meeting of Joint Services Review (JSR) steering group NHS Worcestershire’s chief executive, Eamonn Kelly, said “We have listened to what local people and interest groups have been saying and taken advice from our senior clinicians (doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals). Previously, the JSR has looked at six models which included a significant reduction of services or closure on one or more sites. Although no final short-list has been drawn up we are now focusing our work on delivering services at all three hospitals. This means drawing up site specific service plans which will be further tested on clinical and financial grounds.
“The Alexandra Hospital is the site most likely to be affected. We will now review and refine the clinical and financial detail of the models that look to maximise the number of services that can be provided in Redditch. This work includes talking with the wider NHS to see if there are opportunities for joint working if this ensures the sustainability of safe, high quality services for local people. We have a duty to produce plans that are both deliverable and safe. There are no guarantees that this will be the final outcome but we are committed to making sure we have explored every opportunity to provide the fullest range of services possible across the three sites. This means we will now aim to start consultation, after a second phase of public engagement in the New Year.”
