SAVE the Alex campaigners are concerned the abolition of Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care Trust (PCT) will weaken their fight.

Neal Stote, who is spearheading the battle to save the Alexandra Hospital, hit out after the Government announced its plans for the area's PCTs last Tuesday.

The Department of Health decided Redditch and Bromsgrove PCT would merge with counterparts in Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire to create one larger organisation from October 1.

Mr Stote is concerned this will mean the loss of health representatives fighting for Redditch services at a local level.

"Until now, the PCT has had some really good ideas about how it could save our local services but what will happen when our most local base is somewhere in Worcester?" said Mr Stote, of Greenlands.

He added: "Redditch and Bromsgrove PCT has also worked really hard to be debt free, unlike the PCTs in South Worcestershire and Wyre Forest. Does this mean our money will go to pay off others' health organisations' debts?

The decision to merge the PCTs also came under fire from Redditch's Conservative Parliamentary spokesman Karen Lumley.

"Since 1997 we have seen seven reorganisations of the NHS and now we are looking at two more. But the PCT mergers will now be similar in size and function to the old health authorities, which were abolished only three years ago! Another U-turn by this Government," she said.

"What we will see is further disruption within the NHS costing an extra £320 million, to do what? Certainly not improve the delivery of patient health care for Worcestershire, that's for sure. This is once again change for change sake."

The Government also announced plans to abolish local ambulance trusts and Strategic Health Authorities in favour of larger, regional organisations.