A LOT of work remains to be done on an ambitious project to re-shape hospital services in Worcestershire, a health boss has said.

Speaking at a meeting of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust this week, chief executive Penny Venables said the organisation was working closely with other health organisations in the county to continue to develop the scheme.

In January a long-awaited independent report into the future of acute hospital services in the county was presented, recommending the seriously ill or unwell patients should be taken to Worcester.

Although when the review was announced some expressed concerns the A&E department at the Alexandra Hospital could be closed to cut costs, this idea was thrown out over concerns people living in the north of the county would be left with a lower standard of service to those in the south.

Speaking at the meeting of the organisation responsible for running Worcestershire Acute Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital and Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital on Wednesday, April 30, Mrs Venables said there was some way to go before the scheme was complete.

“We don’t under-estimate the amount of work we’ve got to do,” she said.

“Although the review looks at all three sites but the majority of the changes don’t affect Kidderminster

“There is lots of other work going on around Kidderminster Hospital and we are working very closely with the county’s CCGs to develop this.

“There are also lots of things going on outside this project.”

The trust’s director of strategic development Christine Fearns said described the project as "a really important bit of work".

“Everybody’s working very hard to get it done,” she said.

The review also recommended consultant-led maternity services and paediatric services should be centralised in Worcester and that public transport links between the three hospitals should be reviewed.

It is not yet known how much the project will cost or save, but this is expected to be revealed soon and a public consultation will be launched later this year.

For more information on the project visit www.worcsfuturehospitals.co.uk.