PUBLIC consultation on the future of Acute Hospital Services in Worcestershire has begun with city residents urged to have their say.
Under the plans being put to public consultation all three main hospitals, the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre and the Worcestershire Royal Hospital will remain open but will work differently in future.
The main difference would be the separation of planned and emergency care and the centralisation of where children stay in hospital and where women have their babies in hospital.
Under the plans most planned operations would take place at the Alexandra and Kidderminster Hospitals which would allow the Worcestershire Royal Hospital to concentrate on caring for the sickest patients and those who need emergency operations.
By separating planned and emergency care the NHS believes it can reduce waiting times and the number of cancelled operations.
In addition all hospital births will be confirmed as moving from the Alex to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, as will inpatient children’s services although out patient and urgent services for children with minor and moderate illnesses will remain at the Alexandra Hospital.
Finally, all emergency surgery will move from the Alex to Worcestershire Royal.
Health chiefs say irrespective of the changes 95 per cent of people would continue to receive their care in the same hospital as now and 80 per cent of children who currently receive treatment at the Alex would continue to do so.
Both Accident and Emergency Departments would remain open 24-hours a day but A&E at the Alex would be for adults (over 16 years old) only.
The consultation will run until midnight on Thursday, March 30, 2017.
A number of drop in events have been planned including:
• Thursday, January 19 at Worcestershire Royal Hospital (main entrance foyer) 10am-4pm
• Thursday, January 26 in the Committee Room, Pershore Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive from 2pm
All ll events can be found at www.worcsfuturehospitals.co.uk
