CAMPAIGNERS are urging people to turn out in force at a public meeting to question health bosses and an MP over the future of a Worcestershire hospital.

A public meeting is to be held at the Town Hall in Redditch on Wednesday, September 28, starting at 7pm.

We have previously reported how several services have been centralised at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, most recently inpatient paediatrics on September 7 which has generated concerns over the future of the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

There is no need to book and anyone can turn up at the meeting.

Redditch MP Karen Lumley and council leader Bill Hartnett are chairing the meeting which will also include clinicians from the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and members of Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group.

Mrs Lumley agreed to hold the meeting as Save The Alex continue to apply pressure following the removal of inpatient paediatrics from the Alex.

Neal Stote, chairman of Save The Alex said: "The meeting will be a chance to question those present on that decision as well as the removal of maternity, sustainability fears threatening the future of A&E and what the future holds for the Alex and what Mrs Lumley and the government are doing about it given the huge deficit WAHT is facing, the need for the CCGs in Worcestershire to save £25million and major national staff shortages."

Save The Alex will also be holding a protest rally before the meeting from 6pm outside the Town Hall in Walter Stranz Square.

Mr Stote added: "This will be the last chance for the public to make their feelings known and get answers before consultation starts.

"We hope as many people as possible will turn out to support the Alex and show this town wants and needs a hospital providing the key services we all rely on and not what is fast becoming a glorified cuts and bruises clinic performing planned operations only."

The centralisation has been blamed on a shortage of doctors and bosses at Worcestershire Acute Trust say it is necessary to preserve safety.

Children who are seriously ill who attend via ambulance or are referred by their GP will not go to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch but will be seen by paediatric teams at Worcestershire Royal.

Children’s outpatient services at the Alexandra will remain unchanged.