THE pressure is to be kept on health chiefs over the proposed downgrading of the Alexandra Hospital despite them delaying the start of the public consultation period.

Campaigner Neal Stote said: "We are pleased Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has realised the need to look at the proposals in greater depth.

''But it is public outrage which has forced this rethink and we must keep the pressure on.

''Our website, www.savethealex has already had over 3,000 hits since it was launched and we do not want to lose the campaign's momentum."

Mr Stote added: "Key decisions are being made behind closed doors, such as the closure of Aconbury East block, three publicly owned wards at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, with no mention of where these patients are to be cared for.

''They have also committed themselves to transferring more day cases to Kidderminster from the Alex, again with no mention of how many people this will affect.

''We have also heard from several anonymous sources that the decision has been made to close maternity services.

"Key to all the trust's finances is the Worcestershire Royal PFI contract, yet the trust has once again already ruled out any changes or renegotiation of the contract.

''I find myself asking how can any meaningful consultation take place when so many decisions will have already been made?"

Mr Stote said the planned candlelit vigil on December 15 from 4pm ''must and will go ahead''.

And Redditch MP Jacqui Smith, who will be meeting trust managers on Friday, will speak at the protest march on January 7, which will also be going ahead as planned.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: "We can only reiterate - no decisions have been made about the Alexandra Hospital yet."

Hospital bosses were due to meet county councillors yesterday to discuss the proposals for making £20 million in budget cuts.

Despite public consultation being put back, trust chiefs decided to go ahead and outline the issues to Worcestershire County Council's health overview and scrutiny committee, as previously planned.

Committee chairman Councillor Simon Geraghty said: "We recognise there has been a lot of public feeling expressed over the proposals so we're looking forward to a full briefing.

''I am committed to keeping up to speed with developments to enable us to make informed comments at the appropriate time during the formal consultation process, whenever that begins.''

Meanwhile, members of the Redditch and Bromsgrove health forum have expressed "grave concern" about their limited involvement.

Chairman Alan Tapsell said: "For the trust to embark on a clinical and financial service review without our members being invited to participate from the outset is most inconsiderate and must surely be indicative of a fait accompli.

''Unless the possible transfer of services from the Alex can be proved to be in the interests of the Redditch and Bromsgrove community, we will fight these closures rigorously.''