'Ridiculous' reorganisation of NHS in Worcestershire to cost £35m

The reorganisation is hoped to save £8m annually

Campaigners opposed to the downgrading of the Alexandra Hospital say a £35m budget for reorganising NHS services in Worcestershire is "ridiculous".

The funding is to upgrade services in Worcester, Kidderminster and Redditch and bring in extra staff.

Wendy Johnson from the Save the Alex Campaign said: "Where are those extra staff coming from?"

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said it was committed to retaining the three hospitals.

The capital investment includes £20m for the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

It means the predicted £8m annual savings from the reorganisation will take about four years to be realised.

Mrs Johnson, from the Save the Alex Campaign, said: "It's so ridiculous. They said they'd got to downgrade the Alex to save £50m and because there weren't any doctors.

"Now they're going to spend £30m on refurbishing... and £5m on extra staff. Where are those extra staff coming from?"

Chris Tidman, Deputy Chief Executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, said the process was not set up "to simply save money" and would improve consultant-led services.

He said: "The £30m is a package of capital investment to modernise all three of the hospitals. This isn't all about spending money on the Royal Worcestershire site.

"As a trust board we're committed to seeing these changes through and retaining the three hospitals."