HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has pledged Worcestershire will receive its fair share from the £20billion NHS funding boost.
He met with Redditch MP Rachel Maclean, the MP for Worcester, Robin Walker, and the leadership team from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to discuss the ongoing challenges facing them.
Mr Hancock was taken on a tour of Worcestershire Royal Hospital and met with staff and patients during his visit.
During their meeting with the Trust’s leadership team, Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive of WAHT, it reaffirmed his determination to end the long ambulance waits and patients being treated in corridors.
Mr Hancock said: “It was great to visit Worcestershire Royal Hospital with local MPs Rachel Maclean and Robin Walker.
“I know the hospital faces particular challenges and we’ve been working to ensure it has the support it needs.
“But as well as underlining our support for the staff and the new leadership, I wanted to see for myself the work that’s going in to turn this Trust around.
“Rachel, Robin & the other Worcestershire MPs have been campaigning tirelessly to improve local healthcare provision and I’ll continue working with them and the NHS team to help ensure Worcestershire gets the health service it deserves.”
It was also discussed how the opening of 19 acute beds at the Alexandra Hospital and a 28-acute bed ward at Worcestershire Royal was significantly helping the Trust to improve patient flow and the quality of care patients receive.
Mrs Maclean added: “I hope my constituents are in no doubt that the Alex and local health services remain my absolute top priority – and bringing the Health Secretary to Worcestershire is a clear sign of that.
“My focus is on improving the care my constituents receive, whether that’s at the Worcestershire Royal or the Alex.
“An improved Worcestershire Royal will result in better healthcare for the people of Redditch too.”
