FROM today (June 18) patients in Kidderminster will be sent to Redditch's Alexandra hospital - not the Worcestershire Royal.

The controversial divert, which will run as a pilot for this week, is an attempt to reduce the overcrowding crisis at the Worcester hospital.

But with a number of services recently transferred from Redditch to Worcester there are fears how the Alex will cope.

Hospital bosses have said "additional resources" will be available at the Alex Hospital but have not gone into detail.

Politicians have been quick to slam the divert with Liberal Democrat Councillor for Kidderminster and Worcestershire County Councillor Fran Oborski calling it a "horrendous decision".

Stephen Brown, of Wyre Forest Labour, said: "Who's stupid idea is this? Concerns raised and accepted in the recent 'Future of Worcestershire NHS' consultation was accessibility, transport and distance from services. Didn't take long for them to renege on that, did it? Is this the end for Kidderminster?"

Defunct pressure group Save the Alex also raised a number of concerns.

And Our NHS Worcestershire said the move will lead to more pressure on the Alex, more pressure on the ambulance service and hospital Staff, and patients.

But Mari Gay, chief operating officer on behalf of the three Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) said: “It is quite common place already that the ambulance service and the trust work to vary demand between the two hospital sites, the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcester and the Alexander Hospital, Redditch when under pressure.

"This is often done in an unplanned and reactive way.

“We have been asked by NHS Improvement, the Ambulance Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust to support them testing out whether this boundary change will make a difference to the quality of care for patients and have been reassured that additional resources will be available at the Alexandra Hospital.

“It has been agreed that this planned change will run as a pilot for a week starting from Monday June 18 to determine how effective it is and it will be reviewed throughout the week to assess the impact.”

And a spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust added: “We welcome this pilot because we believe it will help us treat patients in need of urgent care more quickly, reduce waiting times and balance demand across our two Emergency Departments more effectively.

“We have been closely involved in discussions around the border change and we think it will benefit patients from across Worcestershire. It will also help our Ambulance colleagues and other health partners because it should reduce our need to use short notice deflects from one site to another.

"This is part of our ongoing efforts to reduce waiting times, manage patient flow more effectively and change the way we work to deal with continuing high levels of demand of our urgent care services.”