Rachel Maclean: The acute trust has some explaining to do - The Redditch Standard

Rachel Maclean: The acute trust has some explaining to do

Redditch Editorial 21st Nov, 2021   0

The Rachel Maclean column:

“I KNOW the news of the changes to the delivery of trauma services at the Alexandra Hospital will once again raise questions about the future of the Alex.

I will be meeting with the Minister of State for Health later this month to discuss recent developments at the Alex.

But, given Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s complete failure to communicate with residents about these changes, coupled with the Trust’s failure to present a positive vision for the future of the Alex, these questions are completely understandable, and will persist until constituents see the investment in the Alex they’ve been promised.




In 2019, I secured additional funding for the Alex. It follows the £29.6million the Acute Trust was awarded in 2017 when I was first elected.

The Trust told me they needed this increased to £31.9m – and I secured the extra funding they needed two years ago.


There can be no more dither and delay.

The Trust needs to get on and get the business case submitted for the multi-million pound investment in the Alex’s operating theatres.

Spades in the ground and the new theatres being built will send a clear signal to constituents that their hospital is not going anywhere.

This investment will go some way to repair the damage and to rebuild the trust between constituents, who are highly sceptical of the Trust’s intentions for the Alex.

However, we always return to one problem, and that is the Acute Trust and the people of Redditch have diametrically opposing visions for the Alex.

Like you, I want the Alex to be a hospital where women can give birth and where children can be treated. This is not a vision the Trust shares.

This is why I set-up the Alex Working Group to intensify discussions over returning services to the Alex.

I’ve also used these meetings to make it clear that the temporary relocation of the Garden Suite must remain temporary.

I believe all options should remain on the table when it comes to how services are returned to the Alex.

I can assure you that the Alex remains my top priority, and I won’t stop fighting until services are returned to the Alex.”

Rachel Maclean

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Recruitment

Find a career you'll love with our free career finder website.

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.