REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean has secured the additional funding hospital bosses needed to submit a business case for improvement works at the Alexandra Hospital.
The MP has managed to negotiate a £2.3million loan from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock to push the work along.
Following meetings with the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust last month, it emerged that, as a result of increased costs, the £29.6million awarded to the Trust in 2017 would no longer cover the cost of planned improvements at the Alex.
The Trust was awarded this funding in 2017 to implement plans outlined in the Future of Acute Services Review in Worcestershire which saw services such as maternity move to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Since then £16million has been spent on building a link bridge at the Royal and to refurbish its Aconbury East Building creating a 28-bed ward.
Money was also spent on several emergency projects, including improving the safety of the Trust’s estate to enhance the quality of patient services.
However the Alexandra Hospital hasn’t yet received any funding from the original £29.6 million, which had been earmarked for improvements to the elective care centre, endoscopy, children’s outpatients and an upgrade to operating theatres.
After finding out from the Trust that this funding would no longer cover the costs of works at the Alex due to inflation, Mrs Maclean lobbied Mr Hancock to increase the capital funding the Trust needs from £29.6million to £31.9million.
Today, October 16, it has been confirmed that she has been successful, an extra £2.3million being allocated to the sum although this will have to be repaid to the Department of Health in the coming years.
This now means that the Trust can finish and submit its final business case and get the contractors in place to start the improvement works at the Alex.
“This is absolutely fantastic news,” said Mrs Maclean.
“The Trust can now get on and submit their final business case for the much needed improvement works at the Alex – something everyone in Redditch has waited far too long for.
“I’m grateful for Matt Hancock’s help with this and I know he realised this funding was desperately needed.”
