Maternity at the Alex

Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary came to Redditch to listen to the concerns of Mums, NHS staff and Save the Alex over a cup of tea in Winyates. 

Having himself travelled from Worcester to Redditch, including road works on the M5 he could see that geography played a major role in our fight to keep services at the Alex.

Andy stated that he wants to know the impact upon surrounding hospitals if births are taken away from Redditch and that he was unconvinced that this was being done.  In his own area, there is a review of Greater Manchester hospitals and he said we deserved the same wider review in Redditch and to look only at taking services away from one hospital does not address the bigger picture.

In addition Andy restated that a Labour Government would repeal the Health and Social Care Bill brought in by this government that has seen an increased marketisation of the NHS which must be stopped.

In Redditch we have been battling to keep services at the Alex since it was announced in June 2012.

Despite it being well over two years since the review started and £1.3 million already having been wasted on the review, we are still to find out what services will remain at our hospital.

The latest turn of events was January when we learnt that A&E has been recommended to stay at the Alex and maternity, paediatrics and emergency surgery recommended to go to Worcester.  Since these proposals I have been speaking to parents and local people updating them on the latest recommendation - no more births at the Alex.  Like the majority of people I do not believe that this can work safely for mother and baby and I oppose cuts to maternity. 

I will continue to campaign long and hard with local people to keep births in Redditch.  

 

Andy listening to mums, NHS staff and Save the Alex in Winyates