KIDDERMINSTER Hospital is unlikely to suffer from any downgrading as Worcestershire’s health review concentrates on a shake up of A&E services across the county.

Health leaders at a meeting of NHS Worcestershire’s joint services review (JSR) steering group yesterday confirmed all three hospital sites in the county - Kidderminster, Worcestershire Royal, Worcester and the Alexandra, Redditch - would remain open.

Wyre Forest’s MP, Mark Garnier, said the announcement could result in Kidderminster being used to a greater extent by gaining more elective services.

Under the JSR’s proposals the under-threat A&E department at the Alexandra would continue to provide local emergency care alongside a 24-hour minor injuries unit and a GP service on the site.

This would mean about 75 per cent of current urgent and emergency care cases would continue to be treated at the Redditch site - about 20 miles away from Kidderminster.

The A&E department at Worcester would be enhanced to deal with the county’s major emergencies and would include a 24-hour, seven day a week, consultant-led service with “better links to specialist departments” including those treating stroke and heart attack patients.

Chairman of Worcestershire Clinical Senate - a group of healthcare professionals advising the JSR - Lesley Murphy, said: “The JSR work is now concluding.

“Over the coming weeks the county’s clinical commissioning groups will take over the process to ensure options are worked up with the expectation there will be a second phase of engagement after the county council elections in May.”

The review was launched last June and originally threatened Kidderminster Hospital with closure. The process has faced several delays but it is now unlikely Kidderminster will lose any services.