A PUBLIC rally is being held against proposals which could result in a Worcestershire hospital losing its emergency department.

The Save the Alex campaign is organising the peaceful protest on Monday and is urging as many people as possible to attend the demonstration in Walter Stranz Square outside Redditch Town Hall from 4.30pm. The protest will be just before a public meeting, now fully booked, in which health bosses plan to explain cash-saving plans which at the minute are described as ‘models’ rather than shortlisted options.

We have already reported how health bosses have announced models which include the possibility that Worcestershire will have only one emergency department, fuelling concern that the A&E at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch will be closed and that services for women and children will also be centralised at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester. Neal Stote, chairman of the Save the Alex campaign, also said the reason few people attended a board meeting at the Southcrest Manor Hotel in Redditch on Wednesday to discuss the review was because most people were at work during the meeting, which began at 10am.

We reported how trust chairman Harry Turner was ‘disappointed’ with the turnout. Mr Stote said: “Most people have a job.

How are we meant to get to that meeting?”

He also said the board meeting was at the same time as a public meeting to discuss the proposals at Bromsgrove which also began at 10am.

Mr Stote said: “The rally will show the level of anger in the north of the county.”