MP 'will fight' to move Kidderminster chemo unit back to Redditch

Concerns have been raised in Redditch, however, that the unit’s move earlier this year could become permanent following a meeting of the county council’s Health, Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC).

At the meeting earlier this month, Paul Brennan, deputy chief executive officer of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust cited the Garden Suite move as an example of temporary changes that could be made permanent.

He said in the meeting: “It may well be that following discussions within the trust we may wish to discuss with HOSC in the summer the potential for making that change permanent.”

People in Kidderminster have so far shown support for the proposal, saying the town's hospital should be better utilised, however Redditch MP Rachel Maclean has pledged to fight any plans to make the move permanent.

Ms Mclean said: “We will fight trust bosses all the way on this and I will do everything within my power to ensure the Garden Suite is returned to the Alex.”

The Redditch MP attended a meeting of the Alex Working Group on Friday (March 26) to discuss the future of the Garden Suite.

Following the meeting, she said: “It was a constructive meeting and I made it explicitly clear to trust bosses that myself and my constituents want the Garden Suite to return to the Alex as soon as it is safe to do so. As I’ve said before, temporary must mean temporary.

“The trust reiterated their position that the transfer of the Garden Suite from the Alex to Kidderminster during the pandemic remains a temporary move. They told me no decision has been made yet on whether or not the move will be made permanent.

“Following our Alex Working Group meeting, trust bosses are in no doubt that I will fight any move to keep the Garden Suite in Kidderminster permanently.

“I will do everything within my power as the local MP to ensure the Garden Suite is returned to the Alex where it belongs.”