CAMPAIGNERS battling to save hospital services in Redditch are urging Worcester people to back their cause.

About 60 members of the Save the Alexandra Hospital group brandishing banners and placards gathered outside a meeting of health chiefs last week to urge them not to centralise maternity, gynaecology and paediatric services at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The proposal is one of the options on the table in a bid to cut spending across the county's hospitals by £20m next year and balance Worcester-shire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's books.

Neal Stote, chairman of the Save the Alex group, said if the services were transferred it would have a dramatic effect on the people of Worcester.

"At least 1,900 births are going to be transferred to Worcester every year if this goes ahead," he said.

"How are they all going to be accommodated? You have to have a hospital that can cope.

"This would also be a nightmare for families in the north of the county without cars - they would face a three-and-a-half hour bus journey to see their loved ones."

John Rostill, chief executive of the trust, said there were three options being considered - centralise maternity, gynaecology and paediatrics at the Royal, move maternity and paediatrics to the Royal but centralise gynaecology at Redditch, or do nothing.

"The first two proposals have the option of including a midwifery unit in the north of the county," Mr Rostill said.

"There is no consensus of view amongst clinicians about what we proceed with."

and further work needs to be undertaken.

"We welcome all comments in this consultation process."