A YOUNG mum whose premature baby's life was saved by Alexandra Hospital staff fears for the future if the hospital is downgraded.

Karina Homer, 20, of Church Hill, was rushed to the Alex with serious complications almost three months before daughter Millie's due delivery date.

She lost her first baby in October last year and was desperate not to lose a second child.

Miss Homer said she was very close to giving birth while on the way to the hospital but reached the Alex just in time.

"I shudder to think what could have happened to Millie if the hospital wasn't on our doorstep," she said.

Millie was born on July 30 and weighed just 1lb 10oz. She was kept in an incubator for several weeks.

"It was a real comfort to me to know my daughter was in the best possible hands and staff were so caring and supportive," said Miss Homer.

Millie is now at home with her mother but her tiny size means she is still susceptible to infection and has already suffered a collapsed lung and undergone open-heart surgery.

Miss Homer said she feared for her daughter's future if emergency services and paediatric departments are transferred to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

"I don't have my own transport and getting to Worcester means an extra half hour in travelling time, which could be critical if Millie falls ill again."

She added: "I worry for other Redditch mothers and babies in an emergency situation - others may not be as lucky as we were."

Miss Homer is supporting the Advertiser's campaign to stop proposals to centralise inpatient obstetric, gynaecology and paediatric departments and transfer A&E, emergency services, cancer surgery and critical care to Worcester.

She is urging all our readers to join the thousands who have already signed our petition.