HOSPITAL staff in the county have been having their say on a money-saving review which could result in changes to areas including cancer services and accident and emergency.

The Worcester News reported last month how obstetrics, medicine, and ear, nose and throat services may also be changed in a bid to cut spending across Worcestershire Royal Hospital, the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital by £20m a year.

The review of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, was undertaken by private management consultants to secure the future of safe and affordable hospital services in the county.

"Intensive discussions have been taking place with members of those clinical teams because their input is vital if the resulting proposals are to be credible and achievable," trust chief executive, John Rostill, said. "Our project board have been discussing a menu of options that will set out a range of ways in which we might hit this challenging target.

"The menu covered a range of options for each of the services, including performance improvement, service reconfiguration, site rationalisation, repatriation of work currently done outside the county and income recovery - ensuring that we are paid for all the work we actually do."

Mr Rostill added that staff and colleagues in other NHS organisations and people in the communities would have a chance to debate any proposals fully, and suggest possible alternatives.

An independent review panel, chaired by Professor Michael Clarke, has been set up to provide further impartial scrutiny of any plans put forward.

An internal staff panel has also been established by the Trust as part of wider efforts to engage as many staff as possible in the review.

The outline timetable was that the analysis and initial stakeholder engagement process should be undertaken up until the end of September.

The conclusions, including a range of options, will be presented to the Trust's board meeting tomorrow.

This will enable the proposals to be discussed formally during a consultation period which will commence in the autumn. The intention would be to begin implementing the changes in early 2006.

The Trust board will meet at 2pm at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch.