Future of Alex to be debated in Parliament

THE FUTURE of the Alexandra Hospital will be debated in Parliament.

Redditch MP Karen Lumley has secured the discussion in Westminster Hall on Tuesday (February 12).

The 30 minute debate will allow her to make the case directly to Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter for the retention of vital services such as A&E and maternity, as well as push him on under what circumstances he would be prepared to allow a transfer of the Woodrow Drive hospital to Trusts in Birmingham.

Mrs Lumley will also ask at what stage the Government would step in to deal with an over spending Trust.

She told the Standard following the publication of the report into the failings at Stafford Hospital the debate was even more important.

"We need to learn the lessons from Stafford and the report made it clear many people, including MPs, failed to hold that hospital to account, I don't want to be one of those MPs," she said.

"This is an opportunity to make it clear to the minister what the people of Redditch want out of this."

Talks are continuing between commissioners WAHT and University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Birmingham Women's Hospital about future service provision at the Alex.

An announcement is expected at the end of February or early March.

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