Local health bosses are investigating Rachel Maclean MP’s proposal to return the Garden Suite to a temporary facility at the Alexandra Hospital until its permanent home becomes available.
Last month, Redditch’s MP expressed her frustration at the timetable for the service’s return to the hospital after Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said the Garden Suite won’t be back until ‘early 2024.’
In February this year Rachel secured the commitment from the Trust to return the ambulatory chemotherapy service to the Alex following its relocation to Kidderminster during the pandemic.
Trust bosses have told Rachel that finding a suitable location at the Alex for the Garden Suite has proved challenging because of the number of developments and improvements under way on, or planned at, the Alex, including the enhancements to endoscopy which are part of the Acute Service Review plans.
The Trust has identified a likely location at the Alex which could provide a home for the Garden Suite, but bosses have told Rachel it is not likely to be available until the work on the endoscopy development and the creation of a new theatre assessment unit is completed.
Rachel said: “It’s simply not right that my constituents will have to continue to travel to Kidderminster for their chemotherapy treatment until early 2024.
“Chemotherapy is physically draining and almost every week I hear from a constituent who can’t bear the thought of having to continue to travel for their treatment for another year.
“Of course I’m frustrated with local health bosses over the Garden Suite’s return, but I always try to be constructive which is why I have asked the Trust to explore the option of providing chemotherapy from a temporary facility at the Alex until its permanent home becomes available.
“I’m pleased the Trust are investigating my proposal and I look forward to hearing from them in due course. Chemotherapy must be provided at the Alex as soon as possible.”
