WORCESTER'S MP and the chairman of a county patient watchdog have welcomed the news Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust is out of special measures.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which also manages the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital, has been in special measures since December 2015, but its chief executive told staff last week there had been significant improvements to finally lift the trust out of special measures.

Robin Walker said: "I am delighted to receive this news, which is the result of a huge team effort by everyone at our hospitals and a sign of real progress.

"I will be continuing to work closely with the trust to help build on their efforts and this success. I know how hard everyone at our hospitals has been working over revenue years to achieve this improvement and it is a gigantic team effort that has at least delivered success.

“With the challenges of winter and a rising number of Covid-19 cases it is essential that we are able to provide timely access to the best care in the right setting for everyone who needs it. This announcement is a step in the right direction.”

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Peter Pinfield, chairman of Healthwatch, said: "It has been a long hard path to climb.

"The news is credit to all the staff. It is a team effort. They deserve it because they have worked very hard at it.

"From patient's point of view it is important we get hospital services that are safe and good quality and we are now getting there.

"I'm really pleased for them, it is well earned. Obviously the key is now to keep this up now."

Simon Trickett, chief executive of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG added: “This is fantastic news for patients. It is a great achievement and reflects the tremendous amount of work that has been put over recent years. Congratulations to everyone involved."