Mark held a meeting yesterday evening to discuss the future of Kidderminster's hospital. The purpose of the meeting was to give local community leaders a chance to have a more detailed conversation with the Hospitals Trust.
At the meeting were representatives from a number of groups around Wyre Forest. These were from PACT and parish council chairs to representatives of local third sector organisations such as Age UK, the Hospital League of Friends and Worcestershire LiNK. Also present were representatives from the newly formed Kidderminster Hospital Alliance, formed in response to the consultations under way.
Mark called the meeting in order to build communication between the Hospital Trust and those who represent interest groups around the district; to dispel myth; and to give clarity to the process.
A number of key points arose:
- That none of the proposals will result in Kidderminster losing its minor injuries unit, outpatients clinics, and a range of diagnostic services. What is under discussion is elective surgery only. Elective surgery moving away from Kidderminster is included in just two of the total 11 options available under the consultation
- That the current dialogue between the residents of Worcestershire and the Hospital trust will finish in around 6 weeks. The feedback will be used to put forward a short list of defined options (one or two options) in November. Then there will be a statutory 12 week period of formal consultation with a final decision announced in late February or early March.
Mark said: "I was very keen that the people we had at the meeting were people who speak to others. That is why they were all community leaders. I want to make sure that we as a community are fully aware of what is going on and that everyone who wants to comment knows how to, and does so on an informed basis."
Importantly, the meeting also gave an opportunity for the newly formed Hospital Alliance group to meet with local representatives. "This new initiative - the Hospital Alliance - is one that I fully support. It is important that we have a rallying call from a group who are dedicated to articulate the views of residents. I will be with them outside Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday collecting signatures to show that we as a community do not want to lose any services locally, and I would urge everyone to sign this petition.
"We will know for certain where we stand at the beginning of November, when the trust produces its final options. It may well be that our work will be done and that Kidderminster will see more services than it has at the moment. But in the meantime, we will continue to deliver the message, through all of us elected representatives who stand as one on this, and through the Hospital Alliance, that we will not accept any downscale in local services."