THE tragic death of a patient left on a trolley at Worcester A&E department for five hours shows why Redditch people must unite and join the Save the Alex March on May 2, says campaign chairman Neal Stote.
John Flaherty, from Dines Green in Worcester died on Tuesday after being taken to Worcester Royal A&E on Friday, April 10, the day ambulance staff called in a major emergencies consultant after fearing the hospital’s staff couldn’t cope as patients flooded into the department.
Under plans under consideration by the West Midlands Clinical Senate major injuries in Redditch would go to Worcester A&E instead of the Alex, sparking fears the county hospital will again be unable to cope.
“It is just so depressing,” said Mr Stote. “The A&E consultants in Redditch have said these plans won’t work and we have taken our objections to the highest authority in the land (Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt) and the government has done absolutely nothing about it.
“The only way that the people of Redditch can make sure that services are kept at the Alexandra is to make their feelings known and our march gives them that opportunity.
“It’s fairly common sense; what we need to do is start saving services, not cutting them. Worcester Royal is a fine hospital for the people of Worcester, but it isn’t a county-wide hospital, and now everything we’ve told them is finally coming home to roost.”
The March to Save the Alex is at 11am on Saturday, May 2 when people are invited to gather outside Redditch Town Hall before marching to the Bandstand on Church Green where a number of key speakers have agreed to express their views.
For more details call 07989 563864.
