A MUM-to-be has spoken of her fears following the decision to axe the maternity ward at the Alexandra Hospital.

Andrea Dixon, who is expecting her second child in December, said plans to shut the department, revealed by the Advertiser last week, were "a disgrace".

On Thursday, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chiefs confirmed they wanted to centralise maternity services at Worcester in a major cost-cutting shake-up.

"The maternity ward might just be open when I give birth but we just don't know for sure. I have no idea what to do if it does close before then and I am feeling so very let down right now," said Mrs Dixon, of Feckenham Road.

"I don't feel I have been told anything. I have had to read about the cuts in the newspaper."

Mrs Dixon, 25, gave birth to her first child at the Alex two years ago.

"I had my daughter at the Alex and it coudn't have been any better -- the staff were wonderful."

And she also spoke of her concerns about plans to downgrade the Alex's paediatrics department and transfer most services to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

"What happens if your child falls ill with meningitis out of hospital hours? A 30-minute journey could be just too long. It will be a case of dicing with death," added Mrs Dixon.

"The people of Redditch deserve better. We are a town that is growing, not shrinking and we need a fully functioning hospital. We are moving backwards and we should be going forwards.

"I feel it is totally wrong and more people need to stand up and say this is not on."

Fellow expectant mum and chairman of Redditch's National Childbirth Trust Lucinda Turnbull said: "Many mums will be pushed out of the county. It all depends on whereabouts in Redditch you live. For me, living in Church Hill, it would be easier to go to Solihull or Warwick hospital than to Worcester."

Meanwhile, Save the Alex campaign leader Neal Stote has vowed to continue the fight against the cuts.

He said the trust had not provided enough evidence to support the shake-up.

"The trust said they have 'clinical evidence' to support their plans but none of this was explained at Thursday's meeting. There are a lot of questions that need answering," said the Greenlands dad.

He is urging residents to join a national protest in Birmingham's Victoria Square, on Saturday.

The group is organising coaches to the rally. For more details, call Mr Stote on 07989 563 864.