Rachel has demanded local health bosses set out the criteria needed to trigger a review into how they provide maternity and children’s services.
In an open letter to Glen Burley, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Rachel has asked him to clearly set out what the birth rate or population size in Redditch needs to be before the Acute Trust will look again where it provides maternity services from.
Rachel believes there must be a figure which triggers the Acute Trust to review its maternity services to ensure it is meeting the needs of the local population.
This is part of Rachel’s continuing fight to return a maternity and children’s service to the Alexandra Hospital which is a central component of her Long-Term Plan for the Delivery of Health and Social Care.
Rachel said: “I believe we’re heading in the right direction when it comes to building the strong case needed to return a maternity and children’s service to the Alex.
“This is based on the fact the Government is investing a record amount in the NHS, the next generation of NHS doctors are being trained at the Three Counties Medical School and NHS workforce headcount statistics show there are more doctors and nurses working for your Acute Trust than when I was first elected in 2017.
“I’ve always said I would leave no stone unturned in this fight, which is why I want local health bosses to clearly set out the birth rate or population figure in Redditch would need to be to trigger the Acute Trust to look again at how it provides maternity and children’s services.
“I believe any review should then consider these services being provided at the Alex. I’ve long believed the Alex should be a hospital where women can give birth and where children, no matter their injury or illness, can be treated and I won’t stop fighting until that has been achieved.”
