Redditch MP demands fairness from Trust over Garden Suite - The Redditch Standard

Redditch MP demands fairness from Trust over Garden Suite

Redditch Editorial 6th Dec, 2021   0

REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean has called on Trust bosses to ensure any patient consultation on the Garden Suite’s permanent location must be fair and transparent.

Last Friday the MP once again met with the chief executive and chair of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust where she asked about the Garden Suite.

Trust bosses told her that no final decision has been made regarding its future permanent location, and that the earliest any options will be presented to the Trust’s Board will now be March 2022.

Mrs Maclean has been fighting to ensure the temporary relocation of the Garden Suite from the Alexandra Hospital to Kidderminster remains temporary.




The chemotherapy suite was relocated during the pandemic, but earlier this year, the Trust said it could make the move to Kidderminster permanent.

In response, the MP launched a petition calling for its return to the Alex, a petition which has now been signed by more than 7,500 people.


As part of the process on its future permanent location, the Trust have promised to commit to a full engagement exercise with patients.

And at the meeting Mrs Maclean underlined to the Trust that any patient survey must ask Redditch patients about travelling to Kidderminster for treatment, as well as asking them if they would like to receive their treatment at the Alex.

“Although it’s frustrating we now have to wait until March for Trust bosses to make a final decision, if it means patients, and staff, will properly be consulted, then this will hopefully ensure this process is a fair one.

“Any patient survey must not ask leading questions which may give the Trust the answers it wants.

“It must be a fair and transparent process which asks Redditch patients whether they’re happy having to travel to Kidderminster for their treatment.

“From the many emails I’ve received on this issue, not a single chemotherapy patient I’ve heard from is happy that they can’t receive their treatment at the Alex.

“When surveying patients, the Trust must give them the opportunity to express this.”

To sign the petition please visit: https://www.change.org/bringbackthegardensuite

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