Downgrading may not be over yet, warn MP and health watchdog

DOWNGRADED Kidd-erminster Hospital could be facing a fresh round of cuts as county health chiefs scramble to find savings of more than £20 million.

The chairman of a patients' watchdog group is warning Wyre Forest people that "big fights" could be looming, while district MP, Dr Richard Taylor, has demanded an assurance from county acute trust chairman, Michael O'Riordan, that Kidderm-inster will not suffer any further loss in services.

The health campaigning MP, who first swept to power in 2001 when an angry electorate threw out sitting Labour MP, David Lock, after the hospital was hit by swingeing cuts, is worried that Kidderminster could be used to "bail out" debt-ridden hospitals at Redditch and Worcester.

He fears a vigorous campaign launched in Redditch after it was revealed that one option could be the downgrading of the Alexandra Hospital might persuade health chiefs to look at Kidderminster for savings instead.

Dr Taylor said Redditch Labour MP and schools minister, Jacqui Smith, had warned Mr O'Riordan that any loss of services at the Alexandra Hospital would be made over her dead body.

"She has so much clout that, unless we are seen to be reacting here, something could creep through without being spotted," said Dr Taylor, adding: "That's what makes one realise we are up for an incredibly tough battle."

He fears the hospital risks losing some or all of its remaining acute services - namely the minor injuries unit, the treatment centre, outpatients department, rehabilitation beds, the small pathology unit and investigative services, such as x-rays and scans.

That would leave the beleaguered hospital with just the out-of-hours GP-run primary care centre, the GP ward for intermediate care and the psychiatric block.

In a letter sent to Mr O'Riordan this week, Dr Taylor said: "If the idea of a further attack on Kidderminster Hospital is allowed to gain credibility or to enter the list of formal options it could be seen as an easy and pain-free way out yet again for the people of the south and east of the county."

His concerns were fuelled following last week's meeting of the Independent Review Panel, set up to oversee the work by Finnamore Management Consultants, brought in by the trust to prepare detailed cost-cutting options ready for public consultation.

Panel member, Wyre Forest Patients' Forum chairman, Janie Thomas, said it had been made clear at the meeting that, at this stage, all services at the county's hospitals were under the microscope.

She said the Wyre Forest panel members had thought Kidderminster would largely escape this latest round of cuts and could actually benefit by more elective surgery being brought to the hospital.

But she added: "We were left in no doubt that every possibility is on the cards and that everything is up for grabs."

She went on: "Watch this space - I think there are going to be some big fights ahead. I suspect that some services will be cut."

Mrs Thomas urged Wyre Forest people not to sit back and wait until it was too late but to make sure their voices were heard during the consultation period by attending all public meetings and by answering questionnaires and writing letters.

Mr O'Riordan confirmed that no decisions on cost savings had been made and said he and his trust board colleagues were happy to speak at any public meetings or other forums that might be held during the three-month public consultation period due to start next month.