Cuts to a local hospital would hit the vulnerable hardest and create an area of health deprivation, a trio of local authorities has warned in a heavyweight formal representation to health service commissioners.
In a hard-hitting response to consultation by local health service commissioners submitted on Friday (November 8), Redditch Borough Council, Bromsgrove District Council, and Stratford District Council detail how moving services away from the Alexandra Hospital and the over 200,000 people it serves would impact on people's health, widen inequality and weaken the economy and communities of the Redditch and Bromsgrove area – and especially affect the most vulnerable.
The evidence-based response draws on the three councils' in-depth expertise on local populations, transport, socioeconomic issues and health and concludes over 32 pages that the best way to meet the significant health demands of the area is to maintain services at the Alex.
It details how and why moving services that are currently provided in Redditch out of the area would have a negative impact on people's access to and experience of those services. This would exacerbate and increase the already-high levels of health inequality in Redditch, contrary to the National Health Service's duty to actively reduce health inequality.
It also outlines how removing services would cause the local area to become amongst the most health-deprived areas in the region despite a backdrop of high local need.
And although the councils believe vulnerable people should be given the most protection amidst any changes, the response shows that it is vulnerable people that would be the hardest hit because they are least able to respond to less accessible relocated health services. Of the two most likely destinations for the services were they to be moved out of the area, Worcester or Birmingham, the councils' response shows Worcester to be less accessible for local residents. Transport to and from the Redditch area is more expensive, less frequent and takes longer than to Birmingham. The response accepts Birmingham would be the more feasible of the two locations.
Furthermore without local services, the area's stronger socioeconomic ties with Birmingham mean residents are even more likely to 'vote with their feet' and head towards Birmingham for their health needs, which would create unpredictable levels of demand for existing regional health services.
The response also details how limiting healthcare choices available to residents in the area, and taking away the best choices for inferior ones, disempowers residents - which undermines the Government's stated core health values of freedom, fairness and responsibility. This is in direct opposition to Government emphasis that individuals should feel that they are in the driving seat for all aspects of their and their family's health in an environment that supports them in making healthy choices and that makes these choices easier as outlined in the white paper 'Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our Strategy for Health in England'.
The councils' joint response was submitted to the Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group's (RBCCG) consultation over its draft plans for the health services it wants local healthcare providers to deliver in the area. Simultaneously the major local provider of health services, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, has drawn up plans to withdraw some services including A&E and Maternity from the Alexandra Hospital and provide them from elsewhere instead, including from Worcester Royal Hospital.
Cllr Bill Hartnett, Leader of Redditch Borough Council said: “Redditch has the largest areas of deprivation across the county and that brings with it associated health problems. Indeed the prevalence of stroke, asthma and high blood pressure in Redditch are higher than the national average with over 28 per cent of adults obese.
“With a clear link between physical and mental health problems and deprivation, the removal of key health services from the Alexandra Hospital to an inaccessible central base would put some of our most vulnerable residents at risk."
Cllr Roger Hollingworth, Leader of Bromsgrove District Council said: “Transport and access are key factors when considering the reconfiguration of hospital services.
“While any removal of services at the Alexandra Hospital will impact on our residents, if there has to be change then the simple fact is this area enjoys good bus, road and rail links to Birmingham, whereas Worcester is inaccessible for many and that situation is getting worse as county council cuts bite. The NHS ignores this fact at its peril."
Cllr Chris Saint, Leader of Stratford on Avon District Council said: “With the Alexandra Hospital right on the county boundary, it serves many communities in South Warwickshire. The established transport network facilitates people getting to the Alex. Any loss of services will make the alternative far more remote and act against the interests of the local population."
