BROMSGROVE'S MP Julie Kirkbride has slammed plans to close the maternity unit at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust announced last Thursday that all hospital births, neo-natal care and the special baby care unit will be moved to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.

Ms Kirkbride said: "I am very angry that we were promised improved health services to be provided locally, yet here we are with our maternity unit moving to Worcester.

"We pay for our locally provided services and this is part of that. We want to be able to have these services locally so that parents, friends, mums and dads can be together at important times.

"It is a straight forward service that we want to be available near the town.

"You have to ask where has all the money gone?" she added.

In April the trust revealed plans to axe 720 jobs at three hospitals across the county, including the Alexandra Hospital, in a bid to save £30million.

The latest move, part of its ongoing review of clinical services, will also see paediatric services at the Alex downgraded, while an "eight 'til late" assessment centre will be created.

Hospital bosses hope the changes will be implemented by the beginning of the 2007/08 financial year.

Meanwhile Neal Stote, chairman of the Save the Alex action group, said the financial implications of the changes had not been considered.

"The maternity unit at the Alex claims to deliver 1,800 babies a year, so if 800 go to Worcester, Birmingham would not be able to handle another 1,000.

"If people do go to Birmingham, the way the NHS is financed there will be less money in the Worcestershire health economy."